You’ve heard that term before “mental health”, but have you ever stopped to think about what it really means. Many people associate the term with severe mood disorders and psychiatric conditions but that could not be further from the truth. We often overlook the importance of mental health, failing to recognize the impact it has on our overall satisfaction with life and on our physical health. Most people recognize when their mental health is not at its best. You know how when your relationships are not satisfying or when you’re having challenges at work and at home. Despite knowing that something is not right, many people are not sure what to do and tend to ignore these pestering feelings, hoping that they go away.

Let’s start with the obvious, life is stressful. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the ongoing responsibilities and seemingly never ending “to do” lists, that seem to just get longer and longer with every passing day. Most people will do their very best to hide their stress, “just grin and bear it”. Stamping down your emotions.  But what happens when you can no longer bear it? What happens when everything just seems so overwhelming and you feel stuck, and that sense of hopelessness starts to set in? No one wants to admit to feeling overwhelmed. Despite all the awareness and education directed towards mental health, it continues to be a low priority for most people, taking a back seat to obligations that are perceived to be more pressing or “important”.