Check Your Mind: The Importance of Mental Health Wellness

P. Kimberly Thomas, MS, Integrated Healthcare Systems Navigator

If you want to know what’s going on with your body, you will go to a doctor. The doctor will take blood tests, get cultures and ask a bunch of screening questions in an attempt to make a diagnosis and provide treatment. The same should be considered for your mental/emotional health and well-being. We are lucky enough to live in an age where there are a multitude of online screenings that can point you in the right direction. Sharing the results of these screenings with a trained psychiatrist or psychologist can set you on the road to mental health wellness.

October is designated as National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month.  October 10^thin particular is National Depression Screening Day as well as World Mental Health Day. National Depression and Mental Health Screening events are important for many reasons:

At Home Screening

Healthy Minds Philly

To sum it up, screenings are important because they facilitate early detection of potential issues, allowing for timely intervention and improving treatment outcomes. It helps all of us normalize conversations around mental well-being, reducing stigma by integrating it into routine healthcare like physical health checks. By identifying needs early, screening can reduce the severity and chronic nature of most conditions, leading to improved functioning in personal and professional life and potentially lowering overall healthcare costs. So, if you think you or someone you know are struggling with difficult feelings, emotions or behaviors, reach out to a mental health professional and get screened. Or try some of these home screening tools and THEN seek professional help:

1. Awareness:  To highlight the need for accessible and affordable mental health screening.
2. Education: To share information about mental health conditions and the benefits of early detection and treatment.  
3. Reducing Stigma: To encourage open conversations about mental health and encourage those who are struggling to seek help.
4. Early Detection: To promote the idea that mental health screenings are a crucial first step toward identifying and addressing mental health issues.