We’re in the heart of May, and one reason May is so important to our team here at Flourish Psychology is that it is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been just that – an opportunity to:
- Spread awareness of different mental health conditions
- Show how common it is to struggle with mental health.
- Provide wellness tips and information to support mental health recovery.
It’s 2023. Most people now are aware that people struggle with mental health. There are more resources now than ever, and there are entire communities dedicated to understanding anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more. So why is “mental health awareness month” still so important?
Underdiagnosed, Undertreated
Even with all the resources we have available, only a small fraction of the people that struggle with mental health seek treatment. Fewer than 50% of people seek treatment for anxiety, for example, and “seek treatment” means any type of treatment, including those that are not effective or evidence based. The number of people that seek an evidence based treatment, like therapy, is surprisingly small.
Normalizing mental health and normalizing seeking out and treating these conditions is critical, because the more normal it is, the more likely people will feel comfortable and confident getting care. In addition, one of the reasons people seek out ineffective treatments is because some treatment options, like therapy, have stigma that prevent people from getting the care they need.
So Mental Health Awareness Month remains a very important month, and it’s so important that anyone that believes in the importance of mental healthcare feel comfortable and confident in sharing their experiences and the benefits they’ve felt from therapy.
Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month or contact Flourish Psychology if you’d like to start treating your mental health.