The green ribbon is a symbol that is used to promote mental health awareness ribbon and to show sympathy for those who are afflicted by mental illness. In various nations throughout the world, it is used to symbolise Mental Health Week.
The colour of the green ribbon can be changed to support various causes;
examples include teal, lime, and jade. A dark emerald green (not the milder kind) or, more precisely, a dark intermediate cyan-lime green, is typically the colour of the mental health awareness ribbon. Let’s just say it’s a green ribbon to promote awareness of mental health.
Narratives about the green ribbon
According to others, the green ribbon we use today developed from the historical practise of wearing a green sprig to represent mental health difficulties, which included the feeling of grief or melancholy. To show sympathy for someone going through mental anguish, which is typically brought on by the trauma of bereavement, a ribbon made from a pine sprig would be twisted, pinned to a coat, and displayed. There is scant evidence to support the assertion that some residential patients in hospitals in the United States in the 19th century were given a green ribbon or sash to signify that they were insane, and the practise is not known to have been common. This allegation comes from dubious sources. The green ribbon that is now used to raise awareness of mental health has nothing in common with the green sash or ribbon that was once used to designate individuals.
For what it’s worth, the green ribbon’s past as a symbol for mental health issues has nothing to do with how it’s utilised now. As a symbol of our increased understanding of the issue, the green ribbon is now used to advocate for mental health awareness.
What is awareness of mental health issues, and why is it important?
It’s critical to be conscious of your overall health so that you can recognise any signs and, if required, seek medical attention. Everyone is aware of the signs and treatments for common illnesses that impact their loved ones, such as the flu, migraines, and (most recently) COVID-19, but many people are unclear of how to take care of their mental health.
Raising mental health awareness can aid in symptom understanding, professional treatment discovery, and—perhaps most importantly—the elimination of the stigma associated with mental illness that forces so many individuals to suffer in silence.
Which illnesses require mental health awareness?
The millions of Americans who suffer from mental health problems can be helped by raising awareness of these difficulties. One out of every five persons has or is now experiencing mental disease symptoms, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). These figures demonstrate how common it is to have a mental disease.
Several prevalent conditions that require greater awareness include:
Anxiety disorder, generalised
Substance abuse issues
Depression
Bipolar condition
Post-traumatic stress syndrome
Schizophrenia
Thoughts of suicide
Even though each of these mental health issues has a unique set of symptoms, they can have an effect on every facet of your life. In actuality, your mental state affects how you feel, think, and act. This implies that it may significantly impact your social, professional, and personal life.
Many people who suffer from mental illnesses are unsure of how to deal with their symptoms and turn to improper coping strategies to numb their emotional agony. You might thus also be addicted to drink or drugs. Furthermore, if one mental disease is left untreated, you actually run a higher risk of developing co-occurring illnesses, necessitating multiple diagnosis therapy to properly recover.
The reason to promote mental health awareness ribbon
Dorethea Dix, a retired teacher in the United States, is recognised with starting the contemporary Mental Health Movement in the late 19th century. This movement brought about a change in how society and the medical community perceived and treated people with mental problems. She is credited as being the first psychiatric social worker, even before the field was fully recognised.
While financial aid is beginning to get better in some nations, mental health aid is still woefully inadequate. Although it is commonly known that all other factors that have an impact on a nation’s capacity to function pale in comparison to the financial costs and social repercussions on each individual and the larger community, these effects are significantly more severe. Human situation and mental health are inextricably linked.
fostering mental health
The green cause ribbon has come to represent mental health awareness on a global scale. Indicating our support and respect for people who experience mental disease or afflictions by wearing or displaying something during mental health week is important.
The Green Ribbon is a well-known national emblem for raising awareness of mental health issues. It is an opportunity to have frank, open, and informal discussions in response to the inquiry, “What is your green ribbon for?”
We think that everyone can do their share to recognise, understand, and lessen the stigma associated with mental illness.
The following are easy methods for you to help during mental health awareness Green Ribbon Week.
