The Importance of Mental Health Awareness

Savannah Azize
May 2, 2021
3 min read

Want to know all about the importance of mental health awareness? This post is all about the importance of mental health awareness.

It has become abundantly clear while being in the middle of a global pandemic, that the world is suffering from an increase of people not having enough mental awareness. Mental Awareness covers several categories but ultimately is in regard to one's understanding of their mental stability, as well as the signs that correspond with different illnesses, and the resources to help prevent them from progressing or even bringing an end to them.

This post is all about the importance of mental health awareness.

Importance of Mental Health Awareness:

Know the Facts

Being a college student, everywhere you go, you are surrounded by someone that suffers from a mental illness, whether they know it or not. According to the studies on Healthy People, it is stated that every year, there is an estimate that 18.1% of citizens, that are at least 18 years old, suffer from any mental illness, which totals over 40 million people. Unfortunately, the majority of those millions of people will never receive professional help or advice, due to the stigma attached to both mental health and “asking for help.” However, an untreated mental illness can result in much worse; it can lead to higher medical bills, lower performance in your career, a decrease in opportunities given, and most importantly, an increase in the likely hood of suicide, as explained by the Christian Mental Health Services. Throughout the knowledge of resources and signs, you can analyze the importance of mental awareness.

Know Your Resources

Another reason that people suffer and will never receive help, besides not wanting to appear “weak,” is due to the simple fact that they are unaware of all the resources available to them. Attending Coastal Carolina University, it is a bit easier for students to reach out for help, as the university makes a great effort to provide resources, such as counseling, to students in need, for free. This greatly helps reduce the stress of needing help, as oftentimes, therapy can run upwards of several hundreds of dollars per hourly session; something that college students cannot afford. Depending on the city/state you live in, there may be many more resources available in person, but there are always online options that can be used in place of them. A more cost-friendly online option is Better Help, I myself used them while away from CCU, and greatly improved in my daily life thanks to the help that they can offer at a much lower cost.

Know the Signs

Another major issue that causes people to continually suffer, is due to them not knowing that they have a mental illness in the first place. Many people do not realize the small signs that lead to a much larger issue. It can easily be hidden, however, once you understand and know the signs associated with mental illnesses, you may be able to catch it much quicker and either help yourself or someone you know, start the process of getting better. Some of the subtle, but major, signs to look out for, as reported by Mayo Clinic, include the following:

Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
Visit Mayoclinic for the full list of signs and symptoms given.

Of course, all of these signs can be associated with other issues and may not mean you have a mental illness; however, they can be the key to getting help if you know to look out for them; you should be cautious if you see these symptoms in yourself or someone around you.

All in all, no one is perfect, and no one should be expected to be perfect. Imperfections make us unique and set us apart from one another, you have to embrace all of your flaws, even if it is a mental illness! So, know the facts, know your resources, and know the signs and you will be able to prevail! I hope you have a better understanding of the importance of mental awareness. And always remember that you are important, you are loved, and you are needed here.

Please feel free to visit and explore the sites below that I used in the process of writing this article to better understand mental health awareness and start the process of bettering yourself.