Your Mental Health Matters to Your Well Being

Submitted by Hospice of Marion County

May is Mental Health Awareness Month which is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health issues, promoting understanding and support. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being, encouraging open conversations and advocating for accessible resources and treatment. It’s also a reminder that mental health is an integral part of overall wellness and that everyone deserves compassion and support on their journey towards healing.

You don’t have to be diagnosed with a mental disorder to appreciate the importance of keeping mentally healthy. Just the stress of everyday life can cause us to feel like we need a mental health day. It could be from a recent loss of a job. It could be from the loss of someone you loved, whether it was a dear friend, a family member or even a beloved pet (who is just like a member of the family). Loss of any kind can and does affect us emotionally, physically, and mentally.

During Mental Health Awareness month, remember that mental health is as important as physical health. While we may not always have control over our physical health, we do have options when it comes to experiencing grief and loss. Learning how to cope and hold loss and joy side by side is the beginning of hope and healing. The feelings for that lost loved one never goes away, but remembering the joy they brought and the lives they touched can help one experience the loss, remember and celebrate them at the same time.

Here are some poignant quotes to consider:

“Grief is the price we pay for love.”
– Queen Elizabeth II

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
– C.S. Lewis

“When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure.”
– Anonymous

If you are experiencing the grief of losing a loved one and the helplessness you feel, you’re not alone. Join others who are navigating and adjusting to grief – Finding peace and hope in your grief journey is possible. The Monarch Center for Hope & Healing can help through their expert guidance and trained professionals. Available at no charge to the Marion County community, the center has been offering adult, teen and children’s programs, counseling for individuals and in group settings. Programs include providing tips and coping mechanisms to help you express grief through simple art or journaling projects, sharing thoughts with others in a group or in a one-on-one session with a trained counselor. In these sessions you’ll learn: 1) What is a normal grief reaction, 2) How can I cope with stress, and 3) What can I use from the past to focus on the future?

The Monarch staff guides people in understanding that grief is natural and necessary to healing. It’s essential to feel the pain, not suppress it. Being able to talk about your feelings is the first step to finding peace in your grief journey. Staff are available to work with bereaved families and individuals in person, via phone, email or teleconferencing. The Monarch Center’s phone lines are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am -5:00 pm. Call (352) 873-7456 to speak with a counselor.

Hospice of Marion

Visit HospiceofMarion.org for more info.