How Educating Yourself about Mental Health Can Save Your Life

I remember when I first started my own business. Although it felt extremely lonely and overwhelming, I was absolutely excited about being an entrepreneur at such a young age and in the field that I had always felt drawn to.

I started out extremely small, meaning that I was the only employee with a very small office; and within a very short time, my business had grown into a six figure, seven location empire with over 30 employees.

It wasn’t an easy undertaking. In fact at times, I thought it was killing me to maintain all that I had been blessed with.

During the most difficult times of performing as a CEO, I found myself sacrificing way more than I should have for the benefit of others, yet to my own detriment. It wasn’t until I reached a breaking point, physically and mentally, that I fully understood the need for balance – spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical BALANCE!

Although this journey of ups and downs felt lonely, I’ve learned that I was never alone, that there are many leaders and business owners who are challenged with the same struggles. Over time, this begins to wear on your mind and your body and can manifest in many unhealthy ways. Yet very few people make the time and space necessary to tend to their mental health.

Maybe you too have struggled with balancing the roles of being a spouse, a parent, and a professional and can’t seem to manage one without sacrificing the other.

Trust me, I’ve been there., I’ve always struggled with the question of why can’t professionals have it all? Why can’t we excel professionally while maintaining our marriage and raising our children? Well, YOU CAN!

I can only talk to you today because I’ve endured the ever-changing world of entrepreneurship, specifically in the mental health field, and now, I have a much better understanding of how to excel and maintain a healthy balance while doing so.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 264 million people suffer from depression, one of the leading causes of disability, with many of these people also suffering from symptoms of anxiety.

Unemployment is a well-recognized risk factor for mental health problems. However, because most people don’t fully understand what the symptoms of mental illness looks likes, they are very often overlooked.

For this reason, I heavily advocate for the education of mental health in all industries because the absence of this information could very easily lead to excessive rates of burnout and turnover, which we know impacts our self worth, our families, and our careers.

I challenge everyone reading this article to be the change that we so desperately need and:

1. Educate yourself about what mental health is, what it does and does not look like,
2. Eliminate the stigma of mental illness, mental health, and treatment,
3. Reach out to check on your family members, friends, and colleagues who may be exhibiting some of the signs and symptoms,
4. And most importantly, reach in to evaluate your own mental health.

Be sure that you are evaluating yourself and that you are operating from a place of peace and proper balance so you can embrace and fulfill each of the very important roles that you play. And if at any point, you find that you are not, don’t be afraid to get help.

There are so many resources available to you and right at your fingertips. Mental health treatment is now even available virtually and is very cost effective.

About the Author

Christal Charmichael is a transformational therapist, life and leadership coach, mental health expert, success strategist, and founder of ChristalClear Worldwide, a counseling, coaching and consulting firm.

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