Normalizing mental health has long been a goal for APA and psychologists. Over the past decade, we have seen enormous advancement in promoting the notion that mental health is important for everyone, that it can be intentionally strengthened, and that it is intrinsically connected to our physical health and overall well-being.
Despite this greater enlightenment, there is an emerging sentiment that threatens to reverse valuable progress. We are starting to see some groups argue that increased attention to mental health in schools and the workplace is detracting us from the “real issues” on which we should focus.
This thinking is concerning on multiple levels. Attention to mental health does not happen at the expense of other issues. To the contrary, research consistently shows that good mental health is foundational to what enables us to do things like learn math or reading, make decisions, and socialize with others. For many, this is a shift in how they view mental health—as not only about treating illness but also essential to overall health and to optimizing our daily functioning.
These ideas stem from our nation’s long-held view of mental health from a deficit perspective. If seen as a problem that only some have, mental health can be more easily ignored, but not if it is seen as a critical component of what enables us to be better and stronger individuals. Just as peak physical fitness conveys strength, so too does mental wellness. It is imperative that we build a culture where mental health is recognized as part of what makes us “whole” and—just like treating cancer or taking our blood pressure to prevent hypertension—requires both our reactive and proactive care.
If we are not careful, our nation runs the risk of allowing mental health to be politicized as we have seen with other issues during the pandemic, such as mask wearing and social distancing. Psychologists can play a critical role in helping people see that mental health is intertwined with the larger issues that people care about—from promoting business growth to ensuring children’s academic performance.
As psychologists, we have a responsibility to help those in our society understand not only the significance of maintaining our individual mental health, but also the importance of public policy and institutional practices that promote psychological health and well-being.
