Mental health is a topic often not discussed enough. It's traditionally been seen as a sign of weakness, particularly of men, if one is going through a tough time (or even when things are going great!) and having difficulty coping. Meanwhile, physical ailments or injuries are seen as unavoidable and worthy of sympathy.
But even if it's not often talked about, depression likely affects someone in your workplace. In a report released in April, The Centers for Disease Control shows depression among U.S. adolescents and adults increased by 60% in the last decade. And 1 in 10 in the United States last year took prescription medication for depression. One key finding: 87.9% of adolescents and adults reported difficulty with work, home, or social activities due to their depression symptoms, and 31.2% reported extreme difficulty in performing these activities.
Slighlty more female depression sufferers (43%) than males (33.2%) reported receiving therapy or counseling from a mental health professional in the past year, notes the CDC report.
Of course, those numbers don't include those suffering without medication or counseling helping them get better. The National Alliance on Mental Health Illness notes that 1 in 5 adults lives with a mental health condition.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, formed in 1949 by what is now known as Mental Health America. This year, its campaign theme is "Turn Awareness into Action," which celebrates "the progress we've made in recognizing the importance of mental health — and challenging us to turn understanding into meaningful steps toward change."
It's almost incredible to me that this campaign was formed 76 years ago and we still have much room for improvement. Thankfully, the tide may be turning. In this month's feature, Andy Tylka shares his own personal mental health challenges. I applaud him not only for that but for providing mental health counseling coverage to his employees...at no cost. I know not all will be in a position to replicate that healthcare package. But we can start by encouraging an open dialogue about it and offering assistance, beginning with a shoulder to lean on.
