It's EVERYTHING Awareness Month

Oh, October!  Crisp temperatures, warm cider, soft sweaters, boots, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  And National Coming Out Day (11th). And Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.  And National Squirrel Awareness Month (completely true).  Here is a list of ALL of the awareness movements in October. 

My theory about why October is uber-awareness month has to do with cash flow.  I think that it's an easy month to raise money.  The weather is great for 5ks and marathons.  People haven't quite started tightening purse strings to prepare for Christmas shopping.  Additionally, people seem to feel really good at the beginning of fall...I imagine that effects their compassionate giving as well.

I don't think that all of the awareness days properly belong in October.  Case in point... Mental Illness Awareness Week.  It is supposed to be observed the first full week of October...the year it's the 6th-12th.  But, if I were to choose an awareness week it would be in January or February...when people statistically report feeling their emotional lowest.  Blue Monday (the 3rd Monday of January) is a new phenomenon whereby people report being the most depressed.

Although Blue Monday is decried as a pseudoscientific date, I would be willing to wager that a large amount of people who suffer from depression would admit that January and February are the hardest months.  I realize that depression is NOT the only mental illness...but it is often a SYMPTOM of many other mental illnesses.  Depression is listed as a symptom (or comorbid illness) of: bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, anorexia, bulimia, insomnia, addiction, substance abuse, autism spectrum disorders, sadistic personality disorder...and so on and so on.

But, here we are...it's October and next week is Mental Illness Awareness Week.  What are we going to do about it?  First, if you suspect that you have depression, October 10th is Depression Screening Day.  Get screened.  You already suspect it.  Get it checked out.  Here is a link to an online screening...you can also search the web to find screenings in your area.

Secondly, get informed.  Mental illness has lost a lot of its stigma in recent years, but there is still a lot of work to do.  Here is a fact sheet on the topic of mental illness.  Mental illness affects someone you love (statistically).  It's not just Crazy Aunt Marge The Stinky Cat Lady.  It's your mom, your uncle, your husband, your child, your coworkers, anyone. 

Finally, get HELP.  If YOU think you have a mental illness, tell a medical professional.  They will NOT think you are crazy (and if they do, get a different doctor).  A lot of mental illness are simple chemical imbalances that can be corrected or lessened by taking a tiny little pill (or sometimes even simple lifestyle changes).  If you have trauma that has contributed to your mental health trouble...go see a counselor.  They will NOT think you are crazy (and if you ARE crazy, don't you want someone to come alongside you and help you find your way back to sanity?).  Counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists are trained to help people with mental health problems.  They are FOR you. 

If you think (or know) that someone you love has a mental illness, don't hate them, don't fear them, don't think you can save them...just be in relationship with them.  These resources are available to you too.  Ask a counselor how to best care for your husband, wife, child, dad.  They have tons of coping strategies for you.  Google it.  Look for trustworthy sites that give information of living with a person who is mentally ill.  Get informed and figure out how to navigate through life with them. 

Mental Illness is a real thing that affects real people ( a LOT of people).  The more we can understand how our broken brains affect our lives, the more intentional we can be about addressing that brokenness.  Life will never be perfect.  Things in this world are not the way they are supposed to be.  But, with compassion, information, love, and grit, we can do our best to show God's kindness to our loved ones with mental illnesses.