Houston: How’s your mental health? – Daily Independent

Chris Huston

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By Chris Huston | President of the Canadian Peace Museum

No one would hesitate to explain that they missed hockey practice because of a broken leg. In some circles, scars are badges of honor. When I was a kid, students would gleefully sign their names with Sharpies on their friend’s orthopedic cast.

If you see a friend with physical trauma, you’ll probably ask them about it, and they’ll probably tell you. “How are you?” is a ubiquitous greeting, and most people are quick to give happy one-word responses like “fine” or “great.” I like to surprise friends who ask by giving them honest answers. My better half cringes when I give short but honest answers to strangers who ask.

However, I keep doing it because I think it’s important to discuss how we’re really doing. My sincere responses to “how are you?” sometimes it catches people off guard. One question I sometimes ask, however, has turned out to be a real eye-opener. “How is your mental health?” never gets a quick answer. People don’t expect this. But often the question provokes really meaningful conversations.

Still, I don’t usually ask people about their mental health. For some, it remains a deeply personal subject. But maybe it shouldn’t be. I wonder how things would be different if we were just as quick to comment on our anxiety or depression as we are on our headaches. Normalizing these chats erodes stigma.

Stigma gets in the way of talking about mental health, and I think we could have more comprehensive health care if we were all more comfortable talking about it.

I have spoken publicly and written about my mental health. I find that once I do, people share their stories. Such stories are widespread. Years ago I never thought much about mental health. During my recent short stint in local newspapers, housing, poverty, substance use and mental health were the most frequently discussed topics. They often overlap.

I thought that when people talk about problems, they are looking for solutions. I’m older and wiser now and know that sometimes people just need to talk. Talking about mental health is therapeutic for people. Yet starting conversations about mental health can be difficult. We’re not used to it. Many avoid even learning about it. I like the website BeThere.org which offers free tutorials on how to support someone struggling with their mental health. The website offers golden rules for how to start conversations: say what you see, show you care and listen, know your role and reach out to help.

If you have a mental health problem, you’re probably a lot less alone than you think. Regarding PTSD, a 2019 paper published in the Red Cross Academic Journal notes that “approximately 50 percent of men and 60 percent of women have experienced at least one trauma in their lifetime. About 8 percent of these men and 20 percent of these women develop PTSD. In a given year, 8 percent of the general population has a current diagnosis of PTSD. The paper extrapolates that about 26 million people in the US are living with PTSD. The fact that women experience trauma at double-digit higher rates than men should not go unnoticed.

According to data released by the National Institute of Mental Health, 23.1% of US adults were living with a mental illness in 2022. So you probably know people living with mental disorders. The sooner we all talk about it, the better. Practice it: “How’s your mental health?”

Mental Health America operates a text/phone crisis line accessible through 988.

Editor’s note: Chris Houston is the president of Canadian Peace Museum non-profit organization. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcome [email protected].