According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people will struggle with a mental illness at some point during their lives. Seeking mental health care is stigmatized within many black communities, and just one in three Africans who struggle with mental health issues will ever receive appropriate treatment.
For instance, in our Ghanaian professional community, reluctance to seek mental health care is often viewed as a weakness due to the phenomenon of religiosity that permeates many Ghanaian homes. Our Ghanaian culture believes prayer and faith are often the salve for mental health woes and may be favored over formal medical treatment. This has stoked the fear that openly acknowledging mental health struggles will often be met with harsh repercussions rather than needed treatment.
Hence, in alignment with our continued focus on building a sense of connectedness and community in the Ghanaian professionals community, we want to encourage you to help us #breakthestigma associated with mental health disorders.
Your mental health is important and to mark Mental Illness Awareness month we’re offering 6 awesome tips to boost your mental health.
- Get help if you need it – Leverage resources such as Betterhelp to get matched to a licensed therapist ASAP
- Make social connection a priority and talk to someone
- Stay active
- Eat a brain-healthy diet to support strong mental health
- Don’t skimp on sleep – get 6 – 9 hours of sleep
- Make leisure and take up a relaxation practice
We would encourage you all to continue to take care of your mental health; take breaks throughout the day, take a staycation, step away from the computer or shut it off at the end of the day. Make space for yourself to recharge. It’s one thing to hear about self-care, wellbeing, and work-life balance. It’s another to see you model it. Remember, your mental health is a priority. Your happiness is essential. Your self-care is a necessity!
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”― John Green