By Kamira LaNay
Texas Metro News
https://texasmetronews.com
As World Mental Health Day approaches, mental health professionals and advocates continue working to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage people to seek support when they need it. World Mental Health Day brings attention to mental health issues and efforts to improve mental health care.
This year, the World Health Organization’s theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” emphasizing the importance of including people with lived experience in decisions about mental health services and policies.
For Nakia Adamson, MA, MPA, a mental health counselor, conversations about mental health have become easier to talk about, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adamson said, “I think that it was a bit taboo at first, but because of the pandemic and the increase in the usage of mental professionals, I think that the conversation is a little different now.”
She has also seen people turn to mental health professionals not only when they are experiencing a mental illness, but also when they want help managing the challenges and changes of everyday life.
That shift has also been visible in communities, where more mental health professionals are taking their services and information directly to people.
Terrence Venable said athletes, social media influencers and everyday people are increasingly talking about their feelings and emotions, helping make mental health a more visible part of public conversations.
Community outreach has also become an important part of that work. He said therapists are participating in community events and setting up tables where residents can learn about mental health services available in their area.
For both professionals, however, raising awareness also means changing how people understand mental health.
Adamson said one of the biggest misconceptions is treating mental health and mental illness as if they mean the same thing. Mental health, she explained, is something everyone has, similar to physical health, while mental illness refers to medical conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Terrence said mental health should also be viewed as part of a person’s overall health rather than something separate. “We go to the doctor for annual checkups,” he said, pointing to the way people routinely seek care for their physical health. Mental health, he said, should be treated with the same importance.
As Oct. 10 approaches, World Mental Health Day provides another opportunity to continue conversations that extend beyond one day of awareness. For mental health professionals, the goal is not only to encourage people to seek help when they need it, but also to make mental wellness a normal part of taking care of themselves.
Kamira LaNay is a 2026 Journalism and Communications graduate of Morgan State University. She will spend the next year as a Texas Metro News Fellow.
