What is Mental Health?ID: The opening title card has a light blue background with yellow, orange, green and red graphics. The title text is written in dark blue. Noel King is a deaf queer Korean-American adoptee cisgender womxn with long black hair. She wears a black, long-sleeved cardigan. She sits and faces the camera. There is a light purple wall in the background.
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What Is Mental Health?
What is mental health? Mental health is something that we all have, and it is very important to take care of. Try to think about mental health as a state of mind. A person’s state of mind can be affected by many different things! This includes a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. So much happens as people grow and experience. Mental health can be impacted by a life experience we’ve had, how someone has talked to or behaved towards us, and by our lifestyle habits or behaviors. Mental health is also impacted by how good or bad these things are, and how often they occur. All of these things and more can cause our mental health to change every day. Having good days and rough days are normal! What’s most important is that we do what we need to do to support ourselves. There is no shame in struggling. Check out the video above to learn more about mental health and wellness, and how they look different depending on the person!
Please click the buttons at the bottom of this page for more in-depth information at NIMH (the National Institute on Mental Health).
Signs That You May Benefit From Mental Health Support
Feeling that every day is difficult to get through
Feeling hopeless
Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Feeling unable to cope without the use of substances such as drugs or alcohol
Feeling that you don’t have anyone to talk to
Symptoms of Anxiety
Racing/fast-beating heart
Fast-paced breathing or feeling unable to breathe
Difficulty managing feelings of worry
In a state of panic, or feeling that something awful is going to happen
Thoughts of harming yourself
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
Becoming easily tired
Feeling irritable and annoyed
Symptoms of Depression
Feelings of sadness, negativity, or hopelessness
Little or no interest in social interaction
Little or no interest participating in activities that may have used to interest you
Feeling tired and low-energy most days
Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Thoughts of death or suicide
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Mania
A feeling of being “high”, “wired”, or “elated”
Feeling that you don’t need much sleep or an inability to sleep
Talking very quickly about many different things
Participating in high-risk activities or behavior that show poor judgement: For example, eating and/or drinking in large amounts, engaging in reckless sex, or spending and giving away large amounts of money at a time
Feeling that you are exceptionally and unusually talented, powerful, and important
Depressed State
Feeling down, hopeless, upset or sad
Having difficulties sleeping, staying asleep, falling asleep. Or, consistently waking up early
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Showing low interest in almost all activities, including activities that may have previously interested the person
Feeling little to no value or worth as a person
Having persistent thoughts of harming oneself or dying by suicide
Symptoms of Panic Disorder
Sudden, recurring panic attacks that may make the person feel overwhelmed/unable to cope with anxiety and fear
Feeling out of control or dread, like something really bad is about to happen
Experiencing a racing/fast-paced or pounding heartbeat
Difficulty breathing
Sweating or chills
Living in a state of persistent fear of when the next panic attack will happen
Chest pain
Nausea
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, please click here to be taken to our resources page! Help is available.
Call to action (1).mp4ID: Emma is a White woman with long, curly blonde hair. She is wearing a light green, halter neck tank top. The walls behind her are white and there is one window in the background behind her.
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Quality mental health care and support for deaf and hard of hearing people can be achieved, but not without them! Pay attention to these stories, the data, and the need. We encourage you to take this information with you and join us in raising awareness about the urgency of creating accessible mental health support for ALL deaf individuals.
Want to share your mental health story with us? Click HERE!