Mental Health is Brain Health which is Physical Health. We ALL have a brain. Therefore, we all have mental health. Our mental or brain health is affected by the chemistry in our body which is affected by our diet, sleep, exercise, stress, life situations, age, brain development, genetics, etc.
Understanding and promoting this way of thinking about mental/brain health can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Talk about your brain/mental health like you would any other condition, ache or pain.
We can each be “brain healthy” or support mental wellness by being willing to talk about what this means and engaging in activities that “exercise” and/or relax our brain. Just like we exercise our muscles at the gym or by walking, we can “warm up” and exercise our brains to optimize performance. We used to think that once we reached a certain age, our brain function would begin to “go downhill.” We have since learned about neuroplasticity which states our brains can get better and stronger regardless of our age if we exercise them. Being involved in Rotary is a great way to support brain healthy activities like volunteering, learning new things, engaging in social activities, meeting new people, mentoring and teaching others, utilizing knowledge and skills and just having fun and laughing.
It is also important to understand that a Brain/Mental health condition is a physical condition just as diabetes or heart conditions are physical conditions. We can each learn about risk factors and warning signs of mental/brain distress and suicide so we can ask the right questions to offer support and refer to appropriate professional help as needed. We often don’t recognize the warning signs in ourselves.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and will be the focus of our next “Let’s Talk” Article. There is no one single cause for suicide. If you notice that someone is displaying signs of mental distress or warning signs of suicide, start a conversation. Express caring and concern. Ask questions and listen nonjudgmentally. Help find appropriate resources and support as needed.
It is OK to ask the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” If the answer is “yes,” contact the Crisis & Suicide Prevention Lifeline via phone or text at “988” to receive guidance and direct assistance. For Veterans, press “1” and for Spanish speaking individuals, press “2”.
Even though Texas is ranked last among all states in providing behavioral health resources according to the latest Mental Health America reports, we do have resources available “if you can find them” which is something our Rotary eClub is working on as we collaborate with other organizations to find and share these resources. We request your help in adding to the list of available resources we will share with each article. Please help us “make a difference.”
This article is authored by Shirley Weddle (swbrainhealth@gmail.com) of the Suicide Prevention and Brain Health Rotary eClub (www.spbhrotary.org).