Mental Health Matters More Than Ever

Submitted by Hospice of Marion County

May is National Mental Health Awareness month and this is one of the most important aspects of our lives that we should give special attention to and prioritize. 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 to re-evaluate our busy lives and work on how to reduce the chaos.

If you have ever experienced 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), you know the pain of loss and how much it hurts. Loss of any kind can and does affect us emotionally, physically, and mentally.

The feeling of loss could be from any number of things during a normal year – the loss of a spouse, the loss of a job, the loss of celebrating milestones in one’s life with family and friends. 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:

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

“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.”
Helen Keller

“Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch.”
Jack Thorne

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 those suffering the loss of a special someone 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 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (352) 873-7456 to speak with a counselor.