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We still treat mental health so differently from physical health.

How so?

If you’re unfit, you get fit.

If you’re overweight, you lose weight.

If you’re unwell, you get well.

If you had a heart condition, you’d see a doctor and you’d take the necessary steps to fix the problem. Why should it be any different with mental health?

I ask you this, how much do you prioritise your Mental Health? And do you prioritise it the same way as you do your physical health? How often do you go to the gym and watch what you eat… but at the same time don’t consider slowing down or implementing a self-care practice into your lifestyle which would improve your wellbeing.

So why not? Why is it that we see Mental Health as so differently as Physical Health?

The World Health Organization Constitution Principles describe health as:

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This approach is entirely sensible when you consider that mental and physical healthcare are inextricably linked. They aren’t mutually exclusive, they are entwined. They are no different, without the other, we aren’t able to function.

And what I’ve learnt in my own Mental Health Journey for the past six years, and as a professional athlete for the last ten, is that when I didn’t focus on my Mental Health, as much, or if not more as my Physical Health, that my quality of life and my performance reduced.

So again, why? Why do we not focus on Mental Health as much as we do as Physical Health?

Stigma? Lack of Education? Lack of Support? Cost?

Why is it that we only place value on it when we reach crisis point?

Why don’t we implement self-care strategies so that we are better prepared to deal with the inevitable life challenges we will all deal with?

Dealing with challenges is a regular occurrence for all of us, and it’s unrealistic for us to aim for happiness. My biggest mistakes, failures and adversities were my biggest opportunities for growth. Learning to embrace the chaos and turmoil that goes on in life and using the learnings to apply to my life is what has got me to where I am.

Personal growth happened during the toughest moments, not the happiest moments.

SO… again… WHY are we not treating Mental Health with the same level of importance as we are Physical Health?

Over the past month, I’ve been inundated with requests for facilitation of workshops because it has been Mental Health Month. Am I complaining? ABSOLUTELY NOT. But we need to be talking about mental health & wellbeing importance on the days and weeks outside of RUOK DAY? and Mental Health Month. Our mental health needs to be nurtured every day, not just on national awareness days.

If you ultimately want to be happy, have a better quality of life, work efficiently and ultimately live longer… Mental Health has to be on top of that list.

So to parents/teachers/sporting clubs that aren’t considering or have pushed back that workshop on Mental Health, yet want your children to be High Performers… I ask you why?

And to those business/organisations that haven’t pursued a workshop focussing on Mental Health yet want your employees to deal with the stresses and challenges that come with work, I ask you why?

Why don’t you place a value on Mental Health?

And what positive changes in your ‘people’ would happen if you did?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters