While May is National Mental Health Month in the United States, October 10 was World Mental Health Day. Data shows 970 million people around the world were living with a mental health challenge in 2019.
Among the most common mental health disorders suffered globally are anxiety and depression. Clinical anxiety is described as “intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations” that interfere with daily life. Depression is categorized as a “persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest” that may require medication, therapy, or both as an intervention. Both mental health needs require a medical diagnosis before treatment options can be considered or explored.
Washington state has worked toward an emphasis on mental health awareness in recent years with specific areas of focus on at-risk segments of the population including farmers and ranchers, who are significantly more likely to commit suicide than the general population, youth, and Indigenous people.
The difficulties of anxiety and depression can be magnified by the external challenges of day-to-day life. Part of the emphasis of World Mental Health Day is to remind people to check in on family and friends to ensure each person has the support they need to get through difficult circumstances.
If someone you know has anxiety or depression, or you suspect they do, there are some ways you can support them:
- Start a conversation;
- be a compassionate listener;
- validate their feelings;
- suggest professional help; and
- make plans together.
If a person you know has moved beyond symptoms of anxiety or depression, and seems to be considering suicide or self-harm, here are some of the signs you should watch for:
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness or self-hate;
- giving away belongings;
- saying goodbye to people as though they will never see them again; or
- withdrawing from others socially and wanting to be left alone.
There is no perfect way to know if a person is struggling. However, knowing what to look for and how to offer help is a first step in giving people who might need it support and that is what World Mental Health Day is all about.
If you or someone you know is struggling or needs someone to talk to, please call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Operators are available 24/7 to help.
