As Mental Health Awareness Month has come to an end, I want to take the time out to acknowledge how important mental health is. Just like our physical health needs our attention, so does our mental health.
It is important to take notice of how we are feeling on an emotional level. Mental health awareness is not something to only be addressed in the month of May. Every day we have to take notice of how we are feeling inside, what we are thinking and how we are functioning. Are we showing up in a healthy way or are we barely getting by? Maintaining good or optimum mental health can be a struggle for many of us. It is important for me to say that you are not alone. Do not suffer in silence, reach out for help and always remember that isolation may feel good in the moment, but you do not need to bear the weight of your distress in silence.
Help is out there. Strength comes in many different forms, including asking for help and accepting that help. Some of us may make life look easy from the outside looking in, but in fact, maybe emotionally falling apart inside. One of the things that we all have to be mindful of is that many of us are walking around with things that are heavy on our hearts and our minds. So, be kind and patient with one another; your kind words may just be the thing that someone needs to hear on their very worst day. It is okay to see a therapist, and it is okay to pay attention and take care of your mental health. The stigma of seeking help should no longer exist. Let’s make it a point to normalize seeking and getting help. As we check our blood pressure and our blood sugar, we should also check on our mental health. Having good mental health is indeed mental wealth.
—Natalie Lewis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is licensed in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia and Virginia. She is a proud graduate of St. Croix Central High School (“The Classic Class” – Go Caribs) and Nova Southeastern University (Go Sharks).
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
