Have anxiety? You aren't alone!! Mental Health Awareness

1 in 3 Americans have anxiety at some point in their lives, according to The National Institute for Mental Health. If you feel isolated because of your anxiety, please know that you are not alone even if it feels like you are. More than 30% of Americans experience anxiety, but that doesn't mean that your struggles are irrelevant. Anxiety can really affect your life and prevent you from enjoying moments the way that you should. As with anxiety, mental health in general is something that we should be focusing on more.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading causes of disability, and suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds. 1 in 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder. Those with severe mental health conditions die as early as two decades earlier than those without mental health conditions, because they have preventable physical ailments.

There are many difficult factors contributing to the world's mental health. For example, there is still a huge stigma among people about mental health, so many people are embarrassed or afraid to admit that they need some help. Some people want help but don't know where to go for it. There's also a significant portion of the population who do not have affordable access to treatment. Sometimes people are discriminated against for their mental health condition. Because of all of these factors (and more), effective treatment coverage across the globe is extremely low.

So what can we do about this? We can talk about it more and break the stigma that mental health is not as important as physical health. We can be there for each other when times are hard, or when times aren't hard but life is still a struggle. We can speak about the importance of access to mental health care, and advocate for change in society. We can prioritize our own mental health and encourage others to join for certain activities such as spending time outdoors, going to the library, taking a yoga class, getting together for social hour, etc. Often times stress, changes in life, or mental illness can leave us feeling isolated or lonely, so providing social support for all of your friends and family can help build their mental health.

There is no health without mental health.

If you are looking for support or a friend, please message me on Instagram @palmtreeyogawithsara or in the Facebook group Palm Tree Yoga with Sara. You can even post anonymously in the group if you'd like support from others without revealing your name.