2020 reminds us the importance of mental health and self-care. During this unprecedented year, COVID-19 has not only created a global pandemic, but in its wake has caused higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression and substance use. We are all in this together. And this year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week is a time to pause to check-in on yourself and one another. In it’s 30th year, this is a week to raise awareness related to mental illnesses and to provide support for those who need it. We all need it; more than ever, now.
This is a week to reflect on our own beliefs and assumptions about mental health, mental illnesses and substance use disorders. A year full of opportunities to learn, lends itself to learning about discrimination and stigma related to issues of mental health and well-being. Be an advocate for change in how we as a society understand, embrace, accept and seek treatment for mental health needs.
Here at MADO Healthcare our clients are participating in NAMI Chicago’s NAMI Walks Your Way Chicago with a weeklong focus on physical and mental wellbeing. MADO Healthcare is, again, a proud sponsor of this event. Like so many of us across the city, we miss the opportunity to gather as we did pre-pandemic. And this year, we all eagerly and responsibly don our masks and gather in a COVID-Concious way; for therapeutic community arts where all are encouraged to express what matters of mental health mean to them, for a social distanced exercise-athon to stress the connectedness of physical health and mental health, for mini-seminars to learn about healthy lifestyle choices and eating well. This is how we “walk” this year. And like every year, we walk together.
To learn more about how to support the mental health of yourself and those close to you, watch the Kennedy Forum Illinois’ Seminar “Supporting You During COVID-19” and read NAMI‘s resources for Mental Health Awareness Week.