Positive mental health is the single most important factor for living a happy and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, many people–especially those with traditional perspectives on mental health–reject the opportunity to improve their wellbeing. To expand beyond this mindset, we must understand why mental health is important and how we can work to improve it.
The traditional perspective of mental health goes like this: A person acknowledges that an issue is creating a significant discomfort in their life; this can be anxiety, sadness, anger, or other mental health concerns. First, the individual attempts to resolve it on their own. When the problem isn’t resolved, they eventually reach the point of needing professional support, usually in the form of therapy and/or medication. After starting professional treatment, they attend counseling sessions, take prescription medications, and hope to achieve some degree of relief from their symptoms.
Although these interventions remain the cornerstones of mental health treatment, counseling and medication are designed to treat clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and so forth–meaning the problem is already significant and diagnosable. MIND the First Step believes that the process for improving mental health can begin prior to the arrival of significant mental health symptoms. And when professional interventions like counseling and medication are needed, they can be supplemented with a more comprehensive, individualized, and client-led approach to wellbeing.
MIND the First Step has developed the following guidelines–or Stepping Stones–to offer a more effective, accessible approach to mental health. Thoroughly examine each section below to determine which stones will pave your pathway!
1. Knowledge: As noted in other MIND the First Step content, we believe the first step is to gain a little bit of the right knowledge. The topic of mental health is riddled with misinformation and misunderstandings; it’s easy to get lost or feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, you don’t need to become an expert! You simply need to develop a working knowledge of key mental health topics, particularly those that resonate with your current lifestyle/situation.
MIND The First Step is dedicated to providing helpful information to equip our readers with greater insight, as well as access to a range of mental health topics and positive habits. Gaining knowledge also helps to liberate individuals from cultural stereotypes or outdated norms. For example, many people within the United States still see the population as being divided into a large group of “mentally healthy” and a small group of “mentally unhealthy” people. They believe that the “mentally healthy” need no help at all, meanwhile the “mentally unhealthy” need all the support they can get. In reality, the “mentally healthy” also benefit from working on their mental health! In fact, MIND the First Step believes that everyone can benefit from expanding their mental health education and practices. We all exist on a Spectrum of Mental Wellness, and our positions are constantly rising, falling, and ultimately changing with each decision we make.
2. Assessment: To reach your goals, you must first locate the starting line! Professional mental health assessments are designed to rule in or rule out specific disorders. However, by utilizing self-assessment and/or mental health screeners, you can make better-informed decisions about your treatment options. MIND the First Step created a Mental Health Screener, Self Report (MHS-SR), to assess for basic understanding of mental health concepts, mental health strategies, and personal strengths. Completing the MHS-SR, or any other reliable self-assessment, will help reveal opportunities for growth, as well as potential avenues for successfully achieving your goals.
Note: If mental health symptoms are having a significant impact on your ability to function, please contact a healthcare professional to explore appropriate treatment options. In the case of a mental health crisis, the Crisis Hotline is 988; please contact this hotline if you are thinking of hurting yourself and/or others to receive acute mental health support.
3. Selection–or Combination–of Methods: After gaining a comprehensive snapshot of your current mental health needs, it’s time to identify which methods will provide the greatest chance of success. Common routes for achieving mental wellness include: self-help, education, counseling, and/or medication. Counseling and medication are generally treatments used for people with clinical levels of mental health issues (e.g. major depression, bipolar disorder); however, self-help and education are worthwhile additions to anyone’s wellness journey. More importantly, prevention efforts and early intervention are critical to achieving long-term recovery from symptoms. Don’t wait until symptoms worsen to improve your mental health! Likewise, don’t try to do too much at once–this isn’t a race. Focus on your crisis symptoms first (e.g. alcoholism, substance misuse), then develop small actionable steps to achieve incremental progress.
4. Take Action: Taking action will look different for everyone. For example, one person might develop a plan to complete a mental health assessment and commit to reading a book on Mindfulness. Another person might take action by attending weekly counseling sessions, taking the correct doses of prescription medications, and enrolling in a psychoeducational class on Healthy Boundaries. What’s “best” is what works for you! Remember, “with persistence, a drop of water hollows out the stone.” Consistent, small changes can re-shape your world.
5. Follow-Up: Planning periodic follow-ups to evaluate your progress is ideal. These check-ins are especially crucial when feeling stuck, plateaued, or experiencing a setback. Plan to give yourself the time and space to reflect on your progress–or lack thereof–and decide whether to adapt your approach or seek alternative routes. Please, don’t be discouraged by feeling a “lack of progress.” When it comes to mental health, growth is often “one step forward, two steps back.” Be kind to yourself.
Importantly, there isn’t a fixed step-by-step solution for improving mental health–everyone’s journey will be different! However, you can develop a personalized goal plan to keep you on the right path. the most important rule is to START NOW! Begin to seek out knowledge and complete a self-assessment. Next, choose which method (self-help, education, counseling, medication) or combination of methods works best for you. Take small action steps, such as attending professional treatment or committing to independent studies. Lastly, check-in with yourself to monitor progress.
When we understand why we should work on our mental health, we are motivated to begin the wellness journey. When we understand how we should work on our mental health, we can choose the most helpful stepping stones to line our path!
MIND the First Step 