it’s World Mental Health Day!

Since I work in the mental health field, advocating for the end of stigma and for acceptance, understanding, and proper treatment is part of what I do.  Therefore it seemed natural for me to make a post about it (and yes, I’ll relate it to knitting & crocheting)!

Almost 20% of adults in the United States had a mental illness in 2013 (source), and I feel that that number will get higher as the pressures from society slowly grow and as more people come forward for help.  That’s 1 in 5 adults now, though.  Think about how many adults you know.  Yeah.

Check out this video by John Oliver to learn even more about the mental health situation in the United States (but only if you don’t mind cursing and some dirty jokes).

So what do you do if you think somebody close to you might be having some mental health problems?  Talk to them.  Express your concern, and help them feel accepted and loved by you.  Encourage them to see a clinician (whether it be a counselor, therapist, social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist).  If there’s ever an immediate danger that someone is posing to themselves or others due to mental illness, call 911, just like you would for other dangers, so that the person can get immediate treatment in a hospital.

But what if it’s not someone else?  What if it’s you?  Well, again I’d encourage you to see a clinician.  Any monetary cost is worth your mental well being, but you can find clinicians with sliding scales who will work with you on fees if you need help.  And again, in an emergency situation, if you feel that you might be harmful to yourself or others, call 911 and go to the hospital for immediate treatment.  If your symptoms are not that severe but you need coping skills to get through each day (and let’s face it, who doesn’t sometimes?), crafting is a really good one.  Knitting, crocheting, or doing other crafts and pleasurable activities can be very beneficial for people, including those suffering from a variety of mental illnesses.  Give it a shot when you’re feeling anxious or depressed or angry (or whatever other negative feelings you might have), and notice if you feel different afterwards.  I bet you will!

If we support each other and try to be understanding of people with different problems than ourselves, we’ll make the world a better place.  Just think about it, and be aware today of those that are suffering.

That’s all for today, thanks for stopping by!