If there’s anything that 2020 has taught us, it is to become comfortable with uncertainty. I’m glad that finally, we have started paying attention to mental health. We have had so many more talks, seminars, workshops this year. The number of people seeking counselling has increased, and we have really started paying attention to our mental health.
Earlier we didn’t even consider the mind, we only paid attention to the body. That was just half the picture. Now we know one doesn’t work well at all without the other.
Mental health is everyone’s business. We celebrate this day because we want more people to be aware and pay attention to what is inside us. WHO says, “The goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health.”
This year was tough on us. While it put us on a ride we didn’t sign up for, we also learnt a lot. We all tried to find coping mechanisms to deal with the pandemic. We all became braver along the way.
My message and request to everyone is to talk more and more about how we are feeling. This means opening up to each other, sharing how we feel so that someone can be there and support us. The sooner we say, “there’s a problem”, the sooner we start talking about the solution!
Remember the 3 As – awareness, acceptance, access. Once we become aware of what’s going on, we can slowly accept it, which eventually opens up the path to access a solution.
This year’s theme is kindness and kindness starts with ourselves. We often forget to be kind to the most important person!
One way of being kind is by being great at self-care. Before I can be there for someone else, I need to be there for me. I need to have my back at ALL times. Self-care means being kind to ourselves (it does not mean indulgence). That should include being kind to our minds. Self-care makes us better, happier, patient, saner, less cranky, more productive and healthier versions of ourselves.
21,600 breaths pass through our nostrils every single day. Let us be grateful for some everyday. Happy World Mental Health Day to everyone!
Aditi Attri is a Counseling Psychologist and Trainer. She can be reached out at her Instagram account, The Mind Canvas.
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