Why Mental Health Matters

At first glance, it may seem obvious why mental health matters. Having so many sufferers, we need to get them the mental health supports they need, right? Of course, we do, and as a society, we should always be working at fixing our people. A no-brainer. However, mental health matters for other reasons too. As far as I can tell, we are all but cogs in the wheel of our nations. While this may be seen as a terrible thing for some, I tend to disagree.
Here’s why
Many of those who get to hear me rant about mental health know that I often tote individualism as a dreadful thing; not in its entirety, but nonetheless, I think there is such a thing as too much focus on the self. In fact, I can often be heard saying, that without focusing on our nations, there can be no individualism. For me, this makes a lot of sense. If, for example, there’s so much attention on the self, how can a country be resilient? Take national health care as an example. In my travels, I hear all the time, statements such as “I know it’s in crisis, but I just can’t deal with it.” In fact, I hear this statement with such regularity, it’s alarming. So much so, it makes me sick to my guts. Why? Because I know that with every bit of inaction, we allow primary and mental health care to die.

Read Two-tiered mental-health care system

See, we are the change, you and I – and everyone who needs care, needs to fight! For now, let’s not worry about pockets of rights and freedoms and narrow social injustices. Rather, for now, let’s aim our focus on everyone! How? By looking past our individual goals and causes and go after what can help the most amount of people. Or if you like, the greater good.

In other words, what we all need to do is stop using our political ideologies that only divide us and start seeing the duty and responsibility we all share for our neighbors and fellow citizens. Or, as I often like to say, our most pressing concerns are neither left or right; instead, they’re about what’s right and what’s wrong.

Check out Sick Not Weak

So then, what does right and wrong look like? Well, I admit, it’s not that simple. Nonetheless, they are there. Take the mental health care system. A system that is, like every system in our country, in shambles. Therefore, one can make the easy argument that letting it go, is wrong. Consequently, it’s our collective self-preservation that erodes what’s left.

#mentalhealthmatters

Mental health matters because without a robust system to tackle it, we are all too anxious to act on making the major wrongs right. Issues like public health, education, environment, and housing, will continue to falter if we only “worry about how “I feel!” Sadly, this is not a personal opinion of mine; the evidence is pouring out of the science on every universal system and it ain’t good.

If everyone had the skills of a therapist

Lastly, a nation that is mentally unwell, will lose itself to the rigors of those who seek to profit from it. Moreover, it’s to their advantage for us to be divided and sick. It’s so advantageous because then they can slowly privatize, well, everything and make us all pay a higher price; both as a nation and monetarily. By focusing on the main causes, we can defeat this special brand of evil and win back our happiness. But only if we unite and overcome our fears. Remember, if you’re fearful but fighting to fix it, you as an individual will heal.

At first glance, it may seem obvious why mental health matters. However, mental health matters for other reasons too.

Jonathan Arenburg

Jonathan Reginald-Nixon Arenburg (Born January 14, 1976) is a Canadian mental health blogger, speaker, and published author. Retired from the fire service and long-term care fields, he has written and self-published an autobiographical account of his life-long battle with anxiety, depression and more recently, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Titled, The Road To Mental Wellness, he wrote it for what he calls “therapeutic release.” He published it in hopes it would help others going through similar mental health conditions. The sales of The Road To Mental Wellness have been steady selling over 300 copies since its release on October 10, 2021(World Mental Health Day). Arenburg has also been involved in a collaborative publication Called Lemonade Stand Volume III, a book featuring 20 authors who bravely tell their stories of PTSD. All authors where from the military and or emergency services. Published by Joshua Rivedal and Kathleen Myers for the i’Mpossible project, a mental health advocacy organization. Jonathan has also appeared on several mental health podcasts including The Depression Files, A New Dawn, and The Above Ground Podcast Arenburg has also consulted with the Government of Nova Scotia and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Honorable Brian Comer and Candidates for the New Democratic Party of Canada, on improving the mental health care system in Canada. Additionally, Jonathan was recognized in The Nova Scotia Legislature by the Honorable, Chris Palmer, Kings-North MLA, for his Book, The Road To Mental Wellness, his fight to make the mental health care system better. In addition, Chis acknowledged the support he gives to others.

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