Championing women's mental health - breaking down barriers and promoting self-care. Join me in prioritising mental health for a healthier future.
Photo by Dennis Magati from Pexels
As a therapist, a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister, and a small business owner, I believe it is crucial to champion women's mental health.
I want to highlight the barriers that women face when seeking support to overcome mental health struggles. Shockingly, according to the World Health Organisation, 1 in every 5 women will experience some form of mental illness. Women are more vulnerable to mental health issues due to the many responsibilities and roles we play today. However, fear of speaking up, fear of stigma, and insensitivity can be some of the barriers to seeking help.
Neglecting women's mental health can lead to intergenerational mental health concerns among the many unintentional outcomes. That is why we must prioritise women's mental health. We must recognise our mental health as an important form of self-care, rather than a luxury. Mental health care should be something we all prioritise daily rather than every so often, as delaying care can result in a spiralling effect and leave it too late.
““The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
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As women, we may all be wearing secret capes, but nobody is superhuman. We all get tired, scared, overwhelmed, or frustrated when things don't go according to plan. It is okay to ask for help. Asking for help could mean:
Asking a friend or family member to meet and talk through and share your struggles
Starting to keep a journal - either a place to write down your worries and reframe them, to practice gratitude, or both
Creating a small bit of time in your day or week to walk in nature
Taking the step to speak to a trained therapist
““A healthy outside starts from the inside.” ”
This quote highlights the importance of taking care of our mental health as it directly impacts our overall well-being. Just as we prioritise taking care of our physical health, we should also prioritise taking care of our mental health. It is essential to nurture our mental health and seek support when needed to ensure a healthy and fulfilling life.
Qualified therapists provide a confidential space to hear us, and help us learn coping skills and techniques to manage today and manage life in a healthier way going forward.
Investing in your mental self-care is investing in your current and future mental health. It is about role-modelling good mental care to those around us.
Each day, I work with hundreds of therapists supporting so many to make positive changes to their mental health. In my opinion, any human, regardless of gender, who does their best to look after their and others' mental health, deserves to be championed. In such a turbulent world, I find comfort in knowing and seeing the people who work day in and day out to help make people's lives better.
My hope is that every person battling to overcome mental health difficulties realises how far they have come, knows they are worthy of better, and keeps pushing forward. Please know that you are more capable than you think you are and far more worthy.
My hope for those helping others (particularly the amazing MTO therapists) is that they realise how supportive and brilliant they are. Thank you for all the compassion you give to others. I hope you take the time to take good care of yourselves too.
I encourage everyone to take some time to be still, reflect on what is nurturing their mental health, and consider what barriers need to be broken down to prioritise women's mental health in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
Be kind . Be compassionate. Be a champion of Women’s mental health.
Lisa Johnston
CBT Therapist
Director of My Therapiost Online
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