AWARENESS: Understanding the Link Between Life Experiences and Behavioral Health Could Lengthen Your Life!
Written By: Paolo del Vecchio, Acting Lead, Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, Acting Director CMHS
Interested in living longer? For survivors of violence, abuse, neglect, disaster, terrorism, and war, understanding the nature and impact of these traumas and working through the healing process is the key.
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. This is a time when we reflect on research, weigh in on prevention measures, and encourage Americans to think about and act on their mental health and wellness. The link between trauma and behavioral health (mental health and substance use) is still not universally recognized, yet the common methods of coping (e.g. substance use, isolation, sleep changes) in the aftermath of traumatic events can have a direct impact on health and well being. Some studies have shown that trauma and associated health risk behaviors can decrease a survivor’s lifespan by decades, which highlights the critical importance of awareness and healing. Understanding that link and working through the healing process is a big part of what Mental Health Awareness Month is about. SAMHSA has been working to help Americans identify this link – from promoting peer support, to integrating behavioral health in primary care settings. By doing so, it is building awareness, preventing where possible, promoting healing, and improving overall health throughout a trauma survivor’s life.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, SAMHSA has several special activities aimed at building awareness:
- National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day will take place on May 9, 2012. This year, the focus is to honor the caring adults, “Heroes of Hope,” that have helped young people demonstrate resilience following traumatic experiences by maintaining a long-term, stable and positive relationship. Preventing prolonged and repeated exposure to abuse, neglect, and violence with children helps to prevent some of the behavioral health responses that can impact development, socialization, health, and longevity. So far, nearly 11,000 communities and 134 partner organizations are taking part in Awareness Day events.
- National Prevention Week is taking place from May 20-26, 2012. This week of awareness and recognition is intended to prevent substance use and to promote mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing.
SAMHSA’s effort to raise awareness in many different ways works to inform and empower Americans so that they can understand the impact that difficult life experiences can have on their health. To learn more about the link between trauma, behavioral health and healing, visit: SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative #2: Trauma & Justice.
Thank you so much for sharing this article! We are firm believers in the power of peer-to-peer support and I wish more people would recognize that know one can help you like someone who has walked in your shoes.
We speak to many groups about how to spot signs of abuse, trauma, and mental health as it relates to substance abuse and addiction. Most of the people we work with have used and abused drugs or alcohol to numb the pain or to escape from their own reality which they are ill-equipped to deal with until they accept help. But many times an abusive, unhealthy, co-dependent relationship can cause someone’s behavior to mimck an addict. The isolation, skewed perception of reality, and risky behaviors can also be the result of mental and physical abuse, witnessing or being a victim of violence, or suffering extreme traumatic events with no outlet to deal with any of it. We emphasize on taking preventative measures (setting healthy boundaries and reinforcing positive communication), educating families, and intervention.
Thank you again for bringing more awareness to these important issues!
Kelli Athas
Intercept Interventions
Visit our blog at: http://www.interceptinterventions.com/blog/
This is great to know that Some studies suggest that trauma and related health-risk behaviors, can reduce the life of the survivors of decades, which highlights the importance of understanding and treatment of the key. Understand the links and work in the healing process is an important part of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Thanks for posting this information. There were a lot of great events yesterday. Hopefully everyone was able to get out and share the healing.