How To Promote Mental Health Awareness In The Community?

Communities play a vital role in the well-being of an individual. When an individual faces mental health problems, the community can play a determinant role in supporting the individual to deal with and address their problem. When communities “choose to not” or “don't know how to” support, it is likely that the cohesion and trust among members weaken and individuals deal with their mental health issues in isolation. However, when the community is supportive and there is a culture of togetherness and trust built, it influences the individual’s potential to grow, to earn, to participate, to enjoy and live their life to the fullest.

How Prepared are communities to deal with Mental Health Concerns??

The false notions associated with mental illness and mental health can be significantly reduced through education on mental health. Unfortunately, communities are far from being ready due to silence around mental illness and mental health for generations altogether. This has led to ignorance, stigma and taboo on aspects of mental health. While communities are aware of how to care for physical health they lack the assertiveness in providing mental health support. Hence, community mental health awareness is essential for the following reasons:

• Increased care accessibility: With mental health awareness in a community, members can access community-based care and services closer to their homes.?
• Improved outcomes: With more awareness, people will seek help earlier which will affect the better recovery of the individual
• Human rights protection: Not everyone who has mental health problems needs in-patient care, they can be supported through community-based care. This assures the maintenance of their connection with their community and continuation of their life while being supported which works more effectively than living isolated in an institution.?
• Reduced stigma: Through quality awareness spread in a community, the mindset is shifted and the false notions get replaced by factual information. Hence, stigma and social exclusion lessen.?

Here are six ways to promote mental health awareness in the community –?

#1 Learning The Signs And Symptoms Of Various Mental Disorders

Common mental health disorders rarely get diagnosed ‘out of the blue.’ Some signs can help identify a mental health problem early. However, not many people know how to recognize the signs. Alternatively, even if a mental health problem is recognized, due to the stigma, people tend to neglect help-seeking. If ignored or left untreated could lead to more complications. This is why recognizing and understanding the symptoms early on can help reduce the severity of the illness.??

An expert or a mental health practitioner can conduct informative sessions to spread mental health awareness in a community. Moreover, you can introduce appropriate channels to educate yourself and the community members like learning Mental Health First Aid. Just like in physical first aid, you can better learn how to respond in case of mental health issues?

#2 Participating in Local Advocacy Efforts To Support Mental Health

You can collaborate with the local authorities like the DMHP, ASHA, MAS, community healthcare centre or local hospital to organize mental health awareness sessions or campaigns. Moreover, through active participation in a community, you can shed light on several topics related to mental health.?

#3 Start A Dialogue In Your Community

There is enough evidence of the effectiveness of community interventions for improving mental health across social-ecological levels. It’s critical that we start conversations about mental health the same way we talk about physical health.

?#4 Change Your Vocabulary

The vocabulary on mental health has evolved and grown to be more accommodating. Many have become more aware of the implications of invalidating terms such as? ‘mad,’ ‘retarded,’ and ‘feeble-minded,’. To promote mental health awareness in a community, we need to adopt a new vocabulary.

#5 Use Social Media To Spread Awareness

Social media can be instrumental in spreading mental health awareness. It can help you identify resources or mental health care clinics in and around your community. In addition, several mental health experts or practitioners promote seminars and workshops on social media, communities can find and conduct sessions with them. You can also find support groups and professional care - counsellors and psychiatrists on social media.?

#6 Check In With Yourself And Your Community

Check in with yourself and your community by asking questions to understand your emotions. For self-care, you can journal as well. This safe space allows early detection of mental health problems and individuals can find resources to better cope.?

Regular check-ins keep the conversation on mental health going. Hence, ensuring that awareness and the changes that it brings will be sustainable?

?All In All

Mental health awareness can effectively improve the well-being of members of the community. By sharing information, organizing support groups, and talking openly, you can promote mental health awareness in the community.?

MHFA training is known to help communities understand mental health problems and increase confidence in supporting themselves effectively. To know more, you can reach us at +91 7807383004 or write to us at [email protected]?

?Sources:

• BMC Psychiatry report, 2020
• Budget brief for Mental Health 2022-2023
• Castillo, Enrico G et al. “Community Interventions to Promote Mental Health and Social Equity.”?Current psychiatry reports?vol. 21,5 35. 29 Mar. 2019, doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1017-0
• Latha, K et al. “Effective use of social media platforms for promotion of mental health awareness.”?Journal of education and health promotion?vol. 9 124. 28 May. 2020, doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_90_20