Mental Wellness Month is celebrated every January to recognize the importance of caring for our mental health, especially as there has been an increase in cognitive disorders, and the fact that they are stigmatized in many societies. Thankfully, the emphasis that mental health is just as important as physical health is catching on and growing more popular.
Statistics:
- One in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
- One in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
- One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental disorder each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
These statistics can be scary, but it is important to recognize no one is alone.
Here are some suggestions that can move people towards being mentally well:
- Connect with mental health professionals. Their support and outside observations can help varying situations, from grief to serious mental disorders.
- Express gratitude. Research has shown that expressing gratitude can improve your general sense of well-being (specifically mood). Ways to do this may be a though journal or even directly to others.
- Strengthening social connections. This can help people feel more supported. Fostering meaningful human connections is something most people long for, and research shows it improves mental health.
- Exercise. Not only does this improve physical health, but it has also been observed to have positive effects on mental health.
- Sleep. This is essential to good quality living. Adequate sleep helps people cope with stress petter, has a positively effects memory, and improves mood. Adults require around 7 hours of sleep per night.
Following these suggestions and staying on top of the statistics can help improve your own quality of life and make you more knowledgeable for if a friend or family member is in need.
Suicide Hotline: 988
Mental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787
National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663
January is Mental Wellness Month. (2022, January 1). Mental Health Center. Retrieved January 24, 2025, from https://www.mentalhealthctr.com/january-is-mental-wellness-month/
