It's an inconvenience. It's time-consuming, and difficult. It’s also not always understood.
It's something we may bury, suppress, and ignore. If we're not ignoring it, we tell ourselves we'll deal with it tomorrow – but tomorrow never comes. As we continue to give other things priority, we push mental wellness aside.
I didn’t understand mental health in the way I do now. I mean really understand – the nuts and bolts. Understanding mental health awareness takes time. But it’s crucial in recognising the signs, and reducing the stigma.
Why is mental health important? Because it's the difference between wellness and sickness. It’s not something you should take for granted, or something you should opt out from. We should all check in with how we feel.
If you’re lucky enough not to worry about your physical or mental health – because you have your health, and don’t have a predisposition to mental health issues – it is still important to remember: health is not a guarantee
It can change in the blink of an eye – through chronic stress, experienced trauma, or unresolved emotional wounds from your past. Even if mental health feels like an inconvenience, it still matters.
Maybe it’s time we started treating it that way.