It’s 2006 and it’s again to celebrate all that is mental health by kicking off the annual campaign to raise public awareness and kick stigma to the curb!

Caring for your mental health is key to your overall health.
Your mind is connected to your body, and your body, to your mind. You cannot separate the two, and it’s a little ridiculous to try (imagine Frankenstein, if you will). If you take care of only one (think of all those good folks who visit the gym everyday), but ignore the other, you’re missing half the picture. Yes, that’s 50%. You need to take care of your mind, your mental health as well. Can’t communicate in your relationship? Feeling down or depressed all the time? Having interpersonal troubles with your coworkers? Guess what… These are all mental health issues readily resolved with a little committment and attention on your part. Yes, readily resolved.

Caring for your mind as well as your body will keep you healthier, happier and more productive.
Taking care of your mind in this way will keep problems at bay, just as keeping your muscles in shape and keeping the fat off reduces your risk for many common health problems. You don’t “work out” your mind like your muscles, though. You improve your mental health by learning better techniques for communicating with others, by understanding how stress impacts your life, and learning how your own inner dialogue can keep you from achieving all of your life’s goals.

Most mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety disorders, are as treatable as physical illnesses.
Common mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are fairly well-understood by researchers, and the treatments are cost-effective, effective, and usually short in duration. For instance, in depression, most people who receive combination therapy — medications and psychotherapy — will start feeling positive effects of treatment within just a few weeks of treatment. Within 6 to 10 weeks of psychotherapy, most people will report significant strides in their treatment, and within 12-16 weeks, the full antidepressant effects of medications.

Mental disorders are real, common and treatable.
They are as real as a broken arm, as common as the common cold, and as treatable as a simple bacterial infection. There’s nothing magical about mental health issues, and there’s nothing secret about effect treatments for them. Treatments don’t involve “drugging” or locking people or laying on a couch for years at a time.

I also wanted to let you know of something new and important. In support of May’s National Mental Health Month and to kick off spring, the new nonprofit iFred – the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (www.depression.org) – is shining the light on depression survivors and inviting others to help by donating a seed to the 1st Annual Field of Hope. This field is in honor of those who are surviving or affected by depression. This year’s field will be planted May 31st in Goodland, Kansas and everyone is invited to buy a seed to ensure a bright and beautiful field for as little as $10 at www.thefieldofhope.org. All contributions are tax deductible, and at the end of the season you will receive a postcard of the sunny field and know that you have put money towards a cause that is working to create a better world for depression survivors.

Click for more information…

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 2 May 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.