Now that more people seem to be talking about it, do we finally have permission to acknowledge that mental health is something we should pay attention to outside of it being associated with the word, "crazy?"

The well-known stigma around mental health is still very much alive, people are just a bit more courageous when it comes to trying to figure out why they aren't happy with themselves or their lives. Being able to speak openly about mental health can and will save lives. When our joint pain is unbearable we go to the doctor, when the tooth pain becomes too much we begrudgingly get to the dentist. When our emotions overwhelm us quite often we find ourselves feeling stuck, confused or like life is out of our control.

How do you know how to take care of something if you never knew it needed to be taken care of? You don't.

Mental health doesn't have a positive reputation in many societies/cultures so paying attention or taking care of it often comes with shame and secrecy. The irony is that not taking care of or paying attention to your mental health needs can lead to behaviors and decisions that also carry the stench of shame and secrecy. Damned if you do, damned if you don't so why not try? You try to feel better when your head, stomach or tooth hurts. What do you have to lose by trying to feel better about the life you lead? Try the prescription below when you are feeling overwhelmed:

Wellness in mental health is about being able to effectively address and adjust to whatever feelings or emotions come up for you. More and more people are waking up to understanding how important well-being is when it comes to mental health. Just getting by and pretending to be fine is not good enough anymore. Surviving is cool, but living is better. #mentalhealth