Ahrc Recognizes National Mental Health Month:
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the healthcare providers and givers; especially medical doctors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists; in recognizing May as National Mental Health Month.
This year’s month falls amidst a drastic worsening in the nation’s mental health. Two years of the Covid pandemic have combined with several other challenges facing our society to aggravate the mental health of many people. Mental health is like any other health issue. It’s not a personal choice. No one chooses to be sick. However, our society, and especially immigrant communities are very reluctant to seek out professional help. Unfortunately, so many continue to refuse to recognize that mental health issues are not something to be embarrassed by or ashamed of. Therefore, they are reluctant to seek help for themselves or for those they love who need mental health care. Untreated, mental health problems can get worse, sometimes resulting in tragic consequences that are avoidable if responsible action had been taken when needed.
This nation has a problem with health care. A bigger problem with providing dental care. But the biggest problem of all health care issues is the mental health care crisis. The nation has not provided anywhere near the resources needed to care for those with mental health issues. When our society does not dedicate the needed resources to provide the needed mental health care, all society suffers. Mental health not only victimizes the sufferer, it also victimizes the family and loved ones who watch a friend or a family member suffer while unable to help. We hear about crime committed by a few of the mentally ill who are on the street suffering from mental illness, homelessness, and other problems. This is all avoidable and preventable if we as a society decide to take the problem seriously.
We call on all politicians at all levels of government to take mental health care seriously. We know it is not a cheap problem to tackle. But there are already immense costs to letting the problem fester. We are all responsible for our mental health and the mental health of our loved ones. It’s our responsibility to do all we can to save our loved ones.
We should demand that our nation provide the needed resources and support for mental health care. We have no other choice.