Simone Biles - Our Mental Health Champion

Mental health is one of those things that often gets reduced to nothing more than a bad day or nervousness. Or if not reduced than drastically over-blown into some serious ailment which for some reason people treat as contagious.

“Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

It’s sad that we feel we can’t express ourselves or share our troubles without judgement when it’s proven that when we speak out, we create community and open the door for healing not only for ourselves but also for others.

When someone speaks up it’s not weakness, it’s extreme strength. Simone Biles did the right thing for herself and as a representative of her country and to say it was anything else, is just plain wrong.

We’ve all had dark days, sad thoughts and difficult times yet we don’t remember them when someone else expresses their suffering to us. We shut down and tune them out as if we, ourselves will be infected with an incurable disease if they so much as utter their struggles. Why is that?

When being there to listen to someone having a hard time could very well be the exact treatment they need, we turn away and judge them?

Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. People sometimes use the term “mental health” to mean the absence of a mental disorder.

Mental health can affect daily living, relationships, and physical health.

Now more than ever we need embrace each other. Ok, maybe not physically while COVID is raging again, but emotionally. We need to open up the lines of communication, reach out and offer love and understanding to those having a hard time. Whether their ailment can be seen on the outside or not, compassion should be shown.