KCHBA Cares: Mental Health Awareness Week

The KCHBA strongly believes your mental health is just as important as your physical health. In an effort to promote mental health awareness and action, the KCHBA is participating in Mental Health Awareness Week, May 1519 with May 18 being Mental Health Action Day.

This week will focus on taking care of yourself and those around you, particularly in the workplace. There is a stigma surrounding mental health, which includes negative attitudes and beliefs about a person due to a specific characteristic, such as mental illness. It often comes from a place of fear and misunderstanding.

Stigmas can cause someone’s condition to worsen due to: avoidance – delaying or refusing treatment due to shame or hopelessness exclusion; social rejection or strained relationships due to lack of understanding discrimination;

You can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by: Talk openly about mental health

Know the facts - educate yourself and others to be a part of the solution

Think before you speak – your words matter and can have lasting effects

Show compassion for those with mental illness

Don’t hide your experiences - you’d be surprised who else you know who has also struggled

Don’t harbor self stigma - choose courage over shame

Each day of Mental Health Awareness week, the KCHBA will post information and resources for you to use/share to support your own mental health as well as the mental health of those around you. Follow along on the KCHBA’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Please like/share these posts because our mental health is just as important as our physical health!

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, the Missouri 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has launched a new website: www.missouri988.org. The site provides information for anyone who is experiencing a mental health, suicide or substance use challenge.