Time for a Mental Flossing

  By Helen Vollmer, President, Edelman Southwest

When I hear the word, “health,” I immediately think about physical wellbeing. What’s my cholesterol level? Am I overweight? What’s my risk of getting cancer? What can I do to prevent getting sick and how can I better manage my family’s wellness?


What I and most others—including government and businesses—overlook or think of as an afterthought is mental health. But stop and consider how many of our friends, family, colleagues-- and even ourselves—are affected by anxiety, mood, impulse or substance issues. And yet, mental health issues often still remain the “elephant in the room,” not to be discussed openly in social settings. It’s not comfortable talking about your kid who is ADHD, a neighbor who has a drinking problem or a wife you’re afraid to come home to because depression has led her to stay in bed all day.

The bad news is that mental health issues affect each and every one of us, whether we admit it or not. The good news is that most mental health illnesses are treatable. So it serves us all to get a grip on what keeps us emotionally as well as physically healthy. No time like the present, I say. October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but Mental Health Month as well.

A great place to start in understanding what’s at stake here is Mental Health America. This national organization, with local chapters across the U.S., has long been devoted to education, advocacy and service for more than 100 years. Go to http://www.liveyourlifewell.org/ for a self-assessment of how stress alone impacts how you feel, and how you deal with those around you.

With a better understanding of the issues surrounding mental health, it’s easier to be an advocate for needed policy changes and community initiatives. It’s also easier to start those awkward conversations about getting help for people you care about and, ultimately, erasing the taboos of yesteryear so we’re all more productive.

Take a bit of time to assess your mental wellbeing and that of those around you. And then seek help if needed. Those panic attacks or sleepless nights worrying about things you can’t control might just disappear.