What does that statement mean? Is it a statement to remind people that mental health issues do occur and that we should all be aware of them? Or is it a month to take care of our own mental health?

The answer to these questions is YES, and more. There’s so much to know about mental health and how to deal with those suffering from mental illnesses. It all starts with the stigma. Stigma is when someone sees you negatively because of your mental illness. Discrimination is when someone treats you negatively because of your mental illness. Social stigma and discrimination can worsen mental health problems and stop a person from getting the help they need.

The year 2020 has been a challenging year so far for all of us. It has established itself with so many challenging situations. Although mental illness has been viewed by many as a normal “sickness” in today’s world, the mainstream stigma still hangs around. Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that they are untreatable or that people with mental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, or incapable of making decisions. This stigma can lead to abuse, rejection, and isolation and exclude people from health care or support. Now, imagine how a loved one who has a mental illness feels while in a world of a pandemic, gripping with the feeling of not being able to get the help that they need. Stigma can feel like overwhelming obstacles for someone who is struggling with a mental health condition.

Here are a few powerful things you can do to help bring awareness to Mental Health Awareness:

• Showing individuals respect and acceptance can help take away obstacles assisting in successfully coping with their illness.
• Advocating within our circles helps ensure these individuals have the same rights and opportunities.
• Educating ourselves on mental health allows us to provide helpful support to those affected in our families and communities.
• Most importantly, having people see you as an individual and not as your illness can make the most significant difference for someone who is struggling with their mental health.

Source: https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/mental_health_facts/en/index2.html

COVID-19 Impacts of Mental Health

During times of uncertainty, such as the events of COVID-19, many will worry and stress over the uncertainties. Worrying, stressing, and being anxious can sometimes hinder your ability to function. While the three words may seem the same, they are very much different.

During this tidal wave of COVID-19 precautions, there are many things that people have concerns over. Some people might say, “What could people have to stress or worry about? All they have to do is stay at home. Well, for many, this situation is most detrimental as they may have the additional worry of daily life struggles like; finding a place to sleep for the night or when their next meal is going to be. For others, stress may arise by merely attempting to solve a math problem, something that a lot of parents may be doing more of as they are now homeschool teachers.

Everyone is different and will react to the COVID-19 situation differently. Some may worry, stress, or feel anxious about their new normal, and that’s ok.

Here are the differences between the three and the ways to cope:

What are the differences between worry, stress, and anxiousness?

Feeling worried is how the body calms down to handle the problem(s) at hand, such as thinking about and dwelling on the uncertainties/possible adverse outcomes.

Stress is a physical symptom that can put your body into fight or flight mode.

Anxiousness is a constant feeling of stress and worry.

If you are worried:

• Write your worries down
• Make a next step/action plan
• Limit the amount of time to worry

If you are stressed:

• Exercise
• Refocus on what you can control
• Complete what you can

If you are anxious:

• Eat healthy with limits to sugar, caffeine, or alcohol
• Think happy thoughts or do things that will force you to think about something other than the issue.
• Play – Play with pets, kids, do something that will distract yourself.

Source: World Health Organization

As of March 11th the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus a pandemic issue. The word pandemic itself can result in mass hysteria. There are several feelings that can arise amidst the world’s current situation. Take note of your feelings such as fear, worry, anxiety, frustration, uncertainty, loneliness, depression, anger, and boredom. These feelings can occur with just a though, such as the health and well-being of yourself and loved ones. Simply not knowing, can trigger any of these feelings. In these moments, it is important to take notice and act. Here are some ideas to help ground yourself:

Educate yourself to the procedures and measures that our leaders have put in place to assist in the prevention of the spread of disease.

Social Distancing – Social distancing is a way to keep people from interacting closely or frequently enough to spread an infectious disease. Schools and other gathering places such as movie theaters may close, and sports events and religious services may be cancelled.

Quarantine – Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. It lasts long enough to ensure the person has not contracted an infectious disease.

Isolation – Isolation prevents the spread of an infectious disease by separating people who are sick from those who are not. It lasts as long as the disease is contagious.

Stay up to date on what is occurring from reliable resources such as the CDC (Center for Disease Control), WHO (World Health Organization), and the local Public Health Department.

Understand the risks of actions or ideas.  Knowing how decisions can impact your health or others is one step to keeping you informed and making informed decisions.

As humans we thrive on socializing and with the new implementation of quarantine worldwide it has made the essence of life difficult. Utilize technology to stay in touch with loved ones via phone call or facetime.  Let them know your thoughts and feelings on the current situation.

Set limits to screen time, reading, social media, news, talking to loved ones and hobbies.  Know yourself in regards to the content you entertain yourself with and how it makes you feel.  Try not to partake in activities that can be overwhelming.

All we have is time on our hands during this pandemic, so take time to just be still and quiet for a minute or two. To get the best out of this action, turn off or silent all music, TV, and phones. Take deep breaths inhaling and exhaling for 1 full minute.

If you are in need of a change of scenery, try to enjoy your neighborhood and nature daily with 15 minute walks.

If you are feeling over-stimulated another option is to try meditation and chanting, which can be very self-rewarding.

Having the sensation to keep occupied is quite common. Take this opportunity to take care of all the neglected to do lists for the house or yard.

It is important to stay healthy and one of those ways is to eat a healthy meal. Everyone loves a good meal, especially a tasty one. Refocus your worries on creating a well thought out meal.

Although every idea of this invisible disease feels so surreal, it is definitely uncontrollably real. It does have major impacts on us all. There is an end to the pandemic, which will also feel so surreal as well. Once that happens it is best to prepare and educate yourself about the disease, and sharing your educational experience with others can be helpful as well. This will help ease the coping transition for reconnection with loved ones.

If you or your loved ones experience signs or symptoms of depression such as:

• Trouble sleeping
• Problems with eating too much or too little
• Inability to carry out routine daily activities
• Using drugs or alcohol to cope

It is essential to connect with a healthcare professional. South Sound Behavioral Hospital is always here to help.

In order to better help treat our patients and provide the highest quality of care, we are proud to announce we now offer a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP).

What is the Partial Hospitalization Program?

After a patient has gone through our inpatient and outpatient care – there will now be an extra level of support we are able to provide. For those who might not be confidently ready to end services, PHP provides additional support to gradually transition out of care with ease.

Still dedicated to not disrupting the flow of daily life, PHP allows for patients to independently live at a pace that allows them to feel more comfortable and in control of their treatment process.

Want more information on this service we are introducing? We’re happy to provide more details – contact us, today!