By: Brendan Epps

Let me start by saying I am not a trained mental health specialist and this is not meant to take the place of medical treatment in the case of mental illness or disorder. The purpose of this post is to communicate that mental health is more than illness or disorder, just like our physical health is more than physical illness or disease. I also want to disrupt the stigma of mental health and communicate that it’s part of each of us.

Many times, when someone says mental health, they really mean mental health disorder, which is not the same thing. The more we learn about mental health, the less we stigmatize it. According to the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 20% of Americans in a given year “experience some form of mental health illness." That’s far too many people to ignore, or label, the way we do. And with nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffering from mental health disorders, you may know someone, or be that someone, whether you realize it or not.

We’re conditioned to think negatively when we hear the term mental health. There’s a stigma associated with mental health; incorrectly and unnecessarily, by the way. If you break down the term, mental health simply means the health of a person’s state of mind. Notice there’s no issue when someone says, “physical health” or "physical fitness.”

One of the most dangerous outcome of viewing mental health as inherently negative is that people disassociate themselves from mental health. Which, makes sense, in a backwards way. If mental health is this “bad thing” that only “those” people have, why would anyone want it; or admit to “having” it.

But what is mental health really? MentalHealth.gov defines mental health as “...our emotional, psychological, and social well-being…. [affecting] how we think, feel, and act.” Mental health is more than illnesses or disorders. In a very large sense, our mental health is who we are: how we think, what we think, and how we act on those thoughts.

Although not every mental health concern requires medical treatment, it’s important to pay attention to serious warning signs like severe mood swings, thinking of harming yourself or others, feeling numb (as if nothing matters), or inability to perform daily tasks. Be careful not to dismiss those symptoms or a number of others listed at MentalHealth.gov as simply “going through a rough patch.” Take those warning signs seriously and explore them. The warning signs may indicate mental health problems, illnesses, and disorders that require treatment. And certainly don’t try to “suck it up, buttercup.” At a minimum, please talk to someone you trust. Sometimes, hearing “Me too” when we think, “I’m the only one…” reminds us that we’re not alone.

Like physical health, prevention is the best medicine against mental health illness; but seek trained professionals (traditional or holistic) when needed. Did you know stress is a contributor to mental illness? It’s certainly not the only contributor and having stress does not mean you have or will develop a mental illness. It does, however, challenge your mental health as well as your physical health. Developing resilience is a key factor in reducing stress and maintaining good mental health.

The Greater Dayton YMCA provides outlets (classes, equipment, and programs) to build resilience and support our mental health. Perhaps the greatest outlet is through the connections we form with other members and staff. The Y gives us much-needed opportunities to meet other individuals and families who are like-minded; or not. The diversity of Y members brings us closer together in a society that sometimes seems determined to pull us apart. Those connections also give us outlets to vent stress in healthy and constructive ways. Greater Dayton YMCA branches have a positive atmosphere where even introverts like me can get to know other members within my comfort zone.

We weren’t designed to get through life alone. Sometimes when lifting weights, we need a spot, someone to help us lift the weight when it gets too heavy. By taking mental health seriously, perhaps we can provide a mental spot when the weight gets too heavy for someone we know. It doesn’t mean you have to do the lifting, though. Recommending in a compassionate way that they seek professional help can be the right way for you to help. It starts with understanding that we all have mental health, even though we don’t all have a disorder or illness. We can boost our mental health and others by spreading compassion and awareness of mental health.