Page 9 - Pleasant Hill News Letter April 2025

In Loving Memory “GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN”
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of deceased PHBC member:
Bro. Fred A. Caldwell II Sunrise—May 8, 1970 Sunset—January 28, 2025 ============================================================================================================
WHEN IS IT TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?
by Tockermonua Clark, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Mental illness is characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an
individual’s cognition thoughts, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects
a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes
underlying mental functioning. The term mental illness refers collectively to
all diagnosable mental disorders. Genetics, family origin, life experiences,
stressors, and coping strategies that can affect your mental health.
Mental health determines how you think, feel and act. Good mental health is
when you feel positive about yourself and cope well with the everyday
pressures. If you experience issues dealing with everyday problems, it could be a sign of a mental health problem and should be addressed immediately.
Having good mental health makes life easier. It helps us to calm and comfort ourselves when we’re upset, to cope with the losses, changes, fears and uncertainties in life, to make and keep good relationships with other people and to learn. Having good mental health does not mean feeling good all the time. Mental health is not taken seriously due to stigma, lack of awareness, and barriers to treatment. People may be afraid of being stigmatized or shamed. Some believe that people with mental illness are dangerous or responsible for their condition. Stigma can lead to discrimination, such as being denied housing or a job. Media representations of mental illness can be inaccurate or misleading, and mental health education is often not part of school curriculums.
Barriers to diagnosis and treatment may be limited or inaccessible, cost can be a barrier to treatment and people with mental illness may be reluctant to seek treatment due to stigma. Distrust, misdiagnosis, socio-economic factors, lack of African American mental health professionals and medication are barriers as well. Untreated mental illness can have serious consequences on your health, including risk of heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, higher rates of unemployment, increased risk of suicide, and lower life expectancy just to name a few. It’s important to remember that mental illness is a real medical condition that should be treated with the same care as any other illness. There are many ways to improve mental health, including lifestyle changes, therapy, and support groups. Exercising, eating well, good sleep patterns, and having strong relationships with friends and family can increase happiness. Practicing gratitude, being positive, setting goals, talking to someone you trust and keeping a journal are some other strategies to help cope with mental illness. Early detection and prompt treatment is the key to any medical condition.
COVID changed mental health in a good way, when it comes to medication management. It allowed more people to stay compliant with meds. I’ve worked in mental health for 22 years and was the owner of Rising Up Family Services for 10 years. l recently sold the company in August 2024, to take a look at my own mental health. Love yourself, self-compassion is self-care; be your own Valentine!
Treat yourself to a night out or a weekend off to do things that bring you joy, take a break to regulate. Notice signs
of being overwhelmed and allow yourself a minute to reset. Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself how you would anyone else who was in need of love, support, and respect. Mental health is just as important as our physical health. Your most important relationship is with yourself. Love yourself as much as you have loved others. Be kind to your body, and be kind to your mind. Mental illness is real and treatable. Learn how to say “no.” Recognize your triggers. Give yourself permission to not be okay. It’s okay not to be okay. Break the stigma; we are all in this together.
May 1-31, is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the mental health color is green.
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