Cibola’s Unseen Battle: Acknowledging and Addressing Mental Health Issues
Cibola is feeling the crisping embrace of early autumn, where shades of vibrant oranges and yellows adorn the serene landscape, the first week of October opens the door for more than just the delicate transition from summer’s end. It marks the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week, a week that spotlights the need to protect community mental health—emphasizing its impact, promoting awareness, and advocating for comprehensive care and understanding in the county.
Amidst the rich hues and cooling breezes, Citizens across Cibola County struggle with the often invisible but all-too-real struggle of mental health. Mental Illness Awareness Week seeks to bring these struggles into the limelight, dismantling stigmas and creating a Cibola where mental well-being is embraced and nurtured. It will require collective efforts— between communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers—to forge a pathway toward robust mental health resources, emphasizing prevention, intervention, and ongoing support.
Despite the efforts to raise mental health awareness, countless citizens struggle silently with conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and numerous other mental health challenges. The unseen battle that takes place in the mind can be as debilitating as any physical ailment, yet societal understanding and empathy are often missing from this crisis. Acknowledging these invisible struggles and destigmatizing mental health conversations is important, fostering an atmosphere where individuals feel seen, heard, and adequately supported.
A solution for this issue is the practice of mindfulness— a holistic approach that encompasses being present, embracing tranquility, and gently navigating through the challenges of our mental and emotional states. Mindfulness, with its roots deeply embedded in ancient practices, has found a presence in mental health conversations, emerging as a key component in managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Engaging in mindfulness activities, such as meditation, yoga, or simple reflective practices, has been correlated with improved mental well-being, providing an opportunity to safeguard mental health.
In the era of digitization, where our realities are increasingly interwoven with virtual spaces, navigating mental health becomes even more difficult. Social media, online communities, and digital resources forge connections and provide invaluable support networks for many. However, they also pose unique challenges, including cyberbullying, the perpetuation of unrealistic standards, and the potential for increased feelings of isolation and inadequacy. Balancing social media use, employing healthy online practices, and utilizing digital spaces to foster positive mental health are integral to navigating the complexities of our modern age.
Mental health resources must be accessible and inclusive for all of Cibola. This involves acknowledging the varied experiences and unique challenges faced by diverse populations—incorporating gender, race, socio-economic status, and cultural nuances into mental health conversations and interventions.
While the first week of October shines a spotlight on mental health, it is important that Cibola continues these conversations, efforts, and initiatives throughout the year. Mental health is not bound by a calendar week; it is a continuous aspect of overall community well-being. Sustaining support, robust support structures, and cultivating an empathetic, knowledgeable society is crucial in advancing the mental health narrative from a week-long dialogue to a long-term, ingrained societal conversation.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the present moment, without judgment or distraction. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and sensations in a non-judgmental way, while also being aware of your surroundings.
The goal of mindfulness is to cultivate a sense of calm and inner peace, by focusing on the present moment and letting go of worries or distractions. This can be done through a variety of techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, or simply paying attention to your thoughts and feelings as they arise.
One of the key benefits of mindfulness is that it can help reduce stress and anxiety, by helping you to stay centered and focused on the present moment. It can also help improve your overall well-being, by promoting a sense of calm and inner peace.
There are many different ways to practice mindfulness, and what works best for one person may not work as well for another. Some people find it helpful to meditate regularly, while others prefer to engage in mindful activities like yoga or walking in nature. The important thing is to find a practice that works for you, and to make it a regular part of your routine.
Free Mental Health Resources in Cibola:
New Mexico Crisis and Access Line | www.nmcrisisline. com
Crisis and Access Line | 1-855-NMCRISIS | 1-855662-7474 Peer-to-Peer Warmline | 1-855-4NM-7100 | 1-855466-7100 NMConnect smartphone app helps you easily access support in the moment you need it.
Call or Text 988 for quick, free, mental health support.
Village of Milan Police Department has a chaplain program that supports first responders in need. Understanding the wide community need for mental health support, MPD’s chaplain program can also serve the wider public, visit MPD at 619 Uranium Avenue, Milan, New Mexico, 87021.
MPD has a YANA Program to help those feeling lonely or depressed. People in the program will receive a free, daily phone call and will get the opportunity to chat. Visit https://www.villageofmilan. com/y.a.n.a._re gistration/index.php for more information.