Mental wellness plays a pivotal role in our overall quality of life. It influences how we think, feel, and behave in daily activities. At our workshop, we delve into why maintaining mental wellness is essential for personal and professional success. We discuss practical approaches to bolster mental health, such as mindfulness, stress management, and building a support network, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights they can apply in their lives.

It is our hope here at Mental Health Advocacy Inc. that you might try community support before going to a psychiatrist. Why? Because we now know that the majority of psychiatric distress is temporary which suggests we may be better served by therapy, education and support. The problem is that there is a conundrum in how the mental health system is set up. In a nutshell, the programs that we would find helpful must be paid for – by a community grant in some cases, but mostly by medical insurance dollars. To get medical insurance to pay, we have to have a treatable condition. The downside is that once you see a psychiatrist, it is a foregone conclusion that they will prescribe medication whether we need it or not and lock us into a permanent mental illness diagnosis we might not want or have. There is no exit. Sorry to say, the diagnosis is even the gatekeeper to getting a therapist. That being said, it’s absolutely imperative to get the right level of help when you need it, so never be afraid to ask. We are creating a supportive community which is a fundamental aspect of mental health advocacy. We encourage participants to engage in peer support, sharing experiences and strategies to help one another. We are collaborating to develop those free community supports paid for by grants or organizations. We highlight the role of communities in reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness.