In 1990, Congress officially established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in order to acknowledge the importance of mental health. While mental illness can be an incredibly sensitive topic, it’s one that needs to be talked about more. There are many misconceptions about mental illness, and it’s important to educate yourself and others about what mental illness really is.
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is not simply feeling sad or anxious from time to time. Everyone experiences these emotions, and they are a normal part of life. Mental illness is characterized by chronic, persistent, and severe symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to function in their daily lives. Some common conditions include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post traumatic stress disorder.
There is still a great deal of stigma surrounding mental illness. This stigma can make people feel like they have to suffer in silence because they are afraid of being labeled as “crazy” or “weak.” This is why it’s so important to talk about mental health: when we open up the conversation about mental illness, we can help reduce the stigma and give people the support they need.
Finding Support
We are currently facing a mental health crisis in America post-pandemic, making it especially important for those with mental health needs to find support. At Conover, we offer programs to develop life skills necessary for success in both school and life. One of these programs is The Personal Skills Map®. This assessment is designed to identify strengths and weaknesses in social and emotional skills. Based on the results of the assessment, it assigns skills training and learning experiences for healthy personal development.
While this tool is no replacement for a trained mental health professional, it was developed to specifically address the mental health of your students. See for yourself how we can help you to address current mental health concerns for your students. Schedule a demo to learn more.
