Written by Haarika Gogineni and Edited by Ashima Seth
Since 1949, the United States of America has observed May as ‘Mental Health Awareness Month’ in an attempt to recognize and educate the public on the importance of mental health and well-being [1]. Medical News Today defines mental health to be an amalgamation of cognitive awareness, emotional wellbeing, and behavioral maturity [2]. In modern science, however, further research has led to redefining mental health as the well-being of an individual as shaped by the complexities of the human life experience [3].
Due to the lack of a complete understanding of the topic among the public, it is often difficult to translate the importance of mental health. As a result, there are a variety of methods that different organizations and individuals use to increase the community’s recognition and the likelihood of seeking therapy for mental illnesses. One particular study explicitly states that the promotion of mental health relies heavily on the integration of individual, organizational and community factors which could prove beneficial in the form of increased efficiency [4]. Beyond efficiency, mental health can also impact physical health negatively or positively, with up to ten percent crossover between the two facets according to a recent framework analysis [5].
Mental health affects more than just our thoughts; its effects can be translated into daily life, behavior, interaction with the social world, relationships, and even physical health. Thus, mental health has been long since recognized as a crucial part of one’s life and well-being, leading to the observation of May as ‘Mental Health Awareness Month’ by the Mental Health America organization 70 years ago. During this month, institutions across the nation hold programs, workshops, and other events to recruit and educate people on the importance of self-care and consciousness with regards to mental health. Institutions such as the University of California, Irvine (UCI) are no exception, offering gatherings such as the ‘Reclaim Mental Health Conference’ hosted by Associated Students of UCI (ASUCI) on May 5, 2019, and easily-accessible resources at the UCI Counseling Center and Center of Student Wellness and Health Promotion [6].
References:
- (2019). Mental Health Month. Mental Health America
- Nordqvist, Christian. (2017). What is Mental Health? Medical News Today.
- Galderisi, S., Heinz, A., Kastrup, M., Beezhold, J., et al. (2017). A proposed new definition of Mental Health. Psychiatric Polish, 51:407-41.
- Wiseman, J., McLeod, J., Zubrick, S.R. (2007). Promoting mental health and well-being: integrating individual, organisational and community-level indicators. Health Promotion Journal Australia, 18:198-207.
- Ohrnberger, J., Fichera, E., Sutton, M. (2017). The relationship between physical and mental health: A mediation analysis. Social Science Medicine, 195:42-49.
- (2019). ASUCI Reclaim Mental Health Conference. Associated Students- University of California Irvine.