We can’t wait to get into this topic with you. Mental health profoundly touches every aspect of our lives, yet science only uncovers the tip of the iceberg.
Pandemic & President’s Effort
President Biden proclaimed May as the Mental Health Awareness Month. The American mental healthcare system has been struggling to fulfill people’s mental healthcare needs long before the COVID-19 pandemic.
57.2% of American adults with a mental illness do not receive the treatment they need for reasons such as unaffordable service costs, do not have insurance coverage, lack of mental healthcare service types, and insufficient mental healthcare workers. This number has increased since 2011, when it was 22.3%.
The pandemic puts a toll on people’s mental well-being. By September 2020, there was a 93% increase in the number of people taking anxiety screens and a 63% increase in depression screens compared to the previous year. 8 in 10 of these people scored in the moderate to severe anxiety or depression range.
The Biden administration has requested over $4 billion U.S. dollars to build an improved system to meet the mental healthcare needs of American adults and children that have long been underserved before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tools to Thrive
Before the Biden administration’s proclamation, Mental Health America first started Mental Health Awareness Month in 1949. This year, they built a toolkit for people to assess their mental health and better cope with stress. You could start with these mental health tests, from depression to pediatric symptoms checklist for parents and youth.
Nature & Mental Health
People in the U.K thoughtfully celebrated Mental Health Awareness week (May 10-16, 2021) by connecting with nature. Studies suggest getting in touch with nature helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.
We think this is a great idea to fully take advantage of the nice weather this Memorial weekend in the U.S. What actions are you committed to taking to care for your mental well-being?
Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @StanfordHIL, using the hashtag #StanfordHIL.
