Mental Health, It’s Time to Start Talking More About Prevention.

Benjamin Franklin wisely advised that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While originally intended to help Philadelphia stay vigilant against fires, his advice has been widely applied to all aspects of life for nearly three centuries. However when it comes to mental health our focus has still been historically on the treatment and not the prevention.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity”. When it comes to good health, at least physical health, we are taught that prevention is the key. As children we learn we must brush our teeth, and see the dentist. We have annual wellness check-ups with our doctors and take vitamins daily. We know that regular exercise is important to keep our bodies strong to prevent illness and disease. But, we are not taught the importance of maintaining our mental health. 

Let’s take a look at mental health in the U.S. by the numbers. In their lifetime more than 50% of us will receive a mental health diagnosis in our lives, nearly 50 million people, and 1 in 5 children will experience a mental health disorder. Two of the most common disorders (anxiety & depression) cost U.S. businesses $300 billion annually and are estimated to cost $6 trillion to the global economy by 2030. The statistics are staggering and show no signs of improving any time soon. If there was anything good that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that we are talking about mental health more and more, but it is still in the context of treatment, it’s time to change the narrative and start talking about prevention.

As we enter Mental Health Awareness Week there are a number of ways that we can begin to be more proactive in our own mental health journey. There are many simple things that can be done to take care of your mental health such as exposure to sunlight,  engaging in physical activity, connecting with friends and family, and getting enough sleep. You can also begin incorporating mindfulness and mental wellbeing exercises into your routine. These actions and exercises will begin to become habits that will be the tools we call on in times of need or crisis.

We all have mental health and throughout the course of our lifetime it spans a continuum  from times of good mental health to those of struggle. Continue talking about the preventative and proactive actions we can take to build positive mental health. Turn the conversation towards what we can do to help reduce the instances or impacts of future mental health diagnoses. Our mental health is something we all need to work to maintain and it should be prioritized, supported, and talked about as much as our physical health.