The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health awareness applies to every individual, no matter their background. Mental health needs are discussed more often for adults, but it is equally important to remember that infants and children have their own unique mental health needs. A common theme the past few years regarding mental health awareness has been widely expressed using the phrase “No Health Without Mental Health.” This is very true; it is impossible for one to be truly “healthy” without attending to one’s mental health needs.
Mental health encompasses many facets including substance abuse, intellectual and developmental disability, suicide, maternal mental health, infant, early childhood, and children’s mental health, as well as other more well-known mental illnesses. “No Health Without Mental Health” is a very important adage and concept that can shape the lives and experiences of every human being. It considers a holistic approach to human health issues, rather than putting our health needs into silos. One must attend to one’s mental health to achieve overall balanced health goals. Our mindset, thoughts, and emotions all contribute to our physical health outcomes. This is also true for our mental health, as we must attend to our thoughts and feelings, learning to cope with the stressors of life and adverse experiences, so that we can do what is needed to maintain our physical health. It is essential to integrate our mental and physical health care, on both systemic and personal levels.
The influence of mental health on our lives begins before we set foot into society and the world around us. Maternal and Infant mental health has strong influences on our attachments and initial perceptions of the world around us, which continues throughout our childhood, on into adulthood. A mother’s mental health while pregnant and after giving birth is extremely important. Maternal mental health includes the mother’s past experiences from her childhood, postpartum depression and anxiety, postpartum psychosis, among many others that impact the parent-child relationship. Maternal mental health is significantly impacted by her social support, financial situation, and relationship with other caregivers. The initial interactions a mother has with her child are critical in forming their bond. If that bond is not formed with the mother or primary caregiver early on, there are heightened risks for infants to develop mental health issues. Infant mental health concerns stem from lack of interactions and care during infancy. Infants need to have their physical needs met, in addition to receiving positive touch and engagement. These initial interactions a child has with their mother or caregiver go on to shape the child’s overall health and development, physically, socially, and emotionally.
Mental health care has an impact on every age and developmental stage, continuing throughout the life span. Mental health challenges in early childhood derived from those earlier experiences can lead to emotional dysregulation and dysfunction in addition to other social complications. Childhood and adolescent mental health are equally important. As children get older, their mental health is not only impacted by their relationship with their caregiver, but a variety of other influences. These influences include relationships with others, availability of supportive adults, friendships, their environment, and other internal and external experiences. A combination of these factors can impact how a child or adolescent is able to cope with or respond to life’s stressors and obstacles. Without the appropriate support, and positive experiences, youth are more susceptible to mental illness. These same factors also carry on into adulthood, and without the appropriate type of mental health support or care, there is significant risk for suffering from a mental illness. When children, adolescents, and adults receive appropriate mental health services and supports, we see more positive outcomes and increased resilience in overcoming the challenges. Those who experience mental health challenges may have more physical health challenges as well, because our bodies respond to the stressors that are causing the mental health challenge. Dysregulation within our emotional and mental health can lead to dysregulation within our physical health and vice versa.
Mental health awareness is an important piece of the puzzle when working in any human services field. Take the time this month to learn more about mental health and how it can impact individuals of all ages. Remind yourself in practice to consider the mental health perspective when working with others because there is “No Health Without Mental Health.”
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