Written by QCMHA member, Conor Commons
An individual who has body image issues, which is very common, can stand in front of a mirror every day and tell themselves that they are fit. They can repeat this mantra even if they do not believe in the truthfulness of their words. In fact, this individual might even find solace in this routine.
However, this comfort is short lived – the underlying problem will continue to exist until that individual can find a healthcare professional that has an adept understanding of the complexities of this predicament.
One could draw a parallel between those words spoken in front of the mirror and our club (QCMHA). Ever since I co-founded it, I have loved this club at every step of the way, and I think that we have done a lot of work around education and awareness in our community. Unfortunately, we are limited to these two components, as we do not have the knowledge or training to deal with the varieties and intricacies of mental illness.
The purpose of my article is to bridge the gap between awareness and action. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you do, you will eventually face adversity. Adversity and struggle are the sustenance of the human endeavor but depending on who you are and where you come from, the degree of struggle will vary.
Moreover, almost everyone will encounter problems with their mental health and/or experience mental illness, and I want to make it explicitly clear that is okay to ask for help when you need it. Going to get help is the start of a long and tedious process in which barriers are broken and emotions are reexperienced. Whether you are dealing with mental illness, struggling with your mental health, or simply want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I strongly encourage you to make the first move.
I know things really started to change for me when I did.
"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything” - Thomas Carlyle.