Almost all of us either know someone who lives with mental illness, or has struggled with it ourselves. Despite this, mental illness has carried a heavy stigma in society — those with mental illness are thought of as “others” and are often left to suffer in silence for fear of being judged or shamed. However, recent studies suggest that those living with mental illness aren’t really “others.” Nearly all of us will experience a diagnoseable mental disorder at some point in our lives. That’s right. According to Scientific American, “…you are more likely to experience a bout of mental illness than you are to acquire diabetes, heart disease or any kind of cancer whatsoever.”
This information shouldn’t disturb us — it should unify us. We should all be making mental health a priority, because we are all at risk for illness if we leave our mental health unchecked. How do we make it a priority? By having conversations about our mental health, practicing daily habits to maintain optimum health, and taking advantage of the many mental health resources offered in Palm Beach County.
Read: Mental Illness Is Far More Common Than We Knew: New research suggests that nearly everyone will develop a psychological disorder at some point in their life — but for most, it’s temporary. — Scientific American
