The Need to Be Vigilant with Our Mental Health: A Call to Action

Mental health and well-being have been at the top of my mind lately.? With vast social and cultural shifts happening where individuals can be more exposed creating new opportunities for growth while highlighting additional areas of concern. Yet, despite the gains made, there is still more to be done. When having these discussions, we must look at the tensions between one’s innermost feelings and the social forces impacting the psychological balance of the individual and the collective. At this moment we face challenges that need to be dealt with, and it is time to utilize a new tool kit that is nimble, innovative, and provides strategies to not only keep up with this fast-paced reality but also offer a recognition of a new school of thought when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.

?In this new tug of war where the social forces of society are having a profound impact from military conflict in the Ukraine and the Middle East to school shootings seemingly becoming more commonplace forcing middle school and high school students to have preventative drills in the event this would happen in their town. Along with these larger societal events, this is paired with a new reality of social media.? As these platforms have begun to mature and insert themselves as part of our society's fabric, we see that within this type of technology lies a double-edged sword. Despite all the good it offers, there is a flip side to this that has continued to cause increased levels of conflict, as well as heightened levels of anxiety and depression through this intimacy of connectivity that we are still coming to grips with.

?Though these challenges exist, embracing a new ethos of mental health and well-being is essential for long-term sustainability. It is important that we not only double down on the maxim that psychotherapists have used from the very beginning, “start where the client is”, but acknowledge the shifting social and cultural influences that need to be a pivotal element for change in the construction of mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Finding common grounds for communication will be an essential component. Creating connections where the ability to learn, hear, and relate becomes the lifeblood of this new type of strategy. Determining that a top-down approach is not the only school of thought for more effective solutions, but rather a conduit to a plethora of options that offer new alternatives for growth.

?This is a call to action to rethink how communal acts are an essential tool for resolving some of these challenges. Where communities from schools, businesses, and other social institutions need to create a give-and-take when prescribing remedies for growth. Inverted thinking, reverse mentorship, and leaning into a growth mindset are all ways to disrupt the status quo and sensibility of mental health and well-being. Leadership not only thrives from traditional power hubs but also the grassroots and community organizations that see alternative ways to disrupt and find new meaning throughout various environments. We are making progress, but let’s continue to push for tangible solutions that allow for greater levels of equilibrium, welfare, and contentment.

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