Saturday 8 July 2023

Tips For Spreading Awareness About Health-Related Issues

Image Credit: Pixabay

{This is a collaborative post}

Health awareness, including both physical and mental well-being, is a topic that has witnessed increased attention, especially in the past couple of years. The COVID-19 pandemic was a tragedy that put a lot of strain on individuals and families with respect to their health. Naturally, global communities are now focusing efforts and resources on raising awareness about health-related issues. 

Although various projects are underway across the world to achieve certain awareness objectives, the collective responsibility falls on every member of society. As a dutiful member, you have a certain part to play in raising awareness about certain challenges wherever and whenever possible. Whether at home, your workplace, or a community center, take up some role in this regard. 

Here are a few ways in which you can do this: 

1. Start with men and their health 

While there is a lot of emphasis on women and their mental as well as physical health, not much is said about the same for men. There is a substantial strain attached to balancing families and professional lives, along with a host of other issues. These things can sometimes take a toll on the strongest men leading to burnout, anxiety, depression, and even more serious ailments like cardiac diseases. 

You can take the initiative by looking after the people around you. Whether it is colleagues, junior team members, friends, or relatives, try to have certain empathy toward them. Most men don’t say it out loud, even when they are struggling. Make sure you stay aware of certain issues and figure out ways in which you can support them. 

 2. Study public health 

If you want a more direct approach toward raising awareness, enrolling in an online masters of public health and pursuing a relevant career is ideal. Public health is a comprehensive science that includes teaching individuals how to tackle some of the most challenging problems in communities these days, and facilitating people in various segments of society and educating them about prevalent healthcare practices. 

Although this may seem like a more immersive approach to raising awareness in society, it has a wide variety of benefits. As a degree holder, you have access to a broader range of change-making careers and avenues. From non-profits to various other charitable causes, you can dedicate time and effort towards making the world around you a better and healthier place. The right education leads to nourishing skills in you that can be utilized to serve the community via a prolific career. 

3. Focus on mitigating socially-acceptable addictions 

Yes, there are a few health-damaging addictions that are generally acceptable in society. Smoking, alcohol, and, more recently, social media are a few examples of these addictions. For a long time, research has been highlighting the detrimental effects that each of these has not just on individual health, but also on society at large. If you are in any position of authority, you can work on initiatives that tackle these addictions. 

If you are a smoker or have any other habit that may be considered an addiction, start by working on yourself. Lead by example! When you are working on shunning the addiction you have, you can find yourself in a more commanding position to make people around you aware of the problem at hand. You’ll see that people respect you more because they see you as a man of action rather than just words. 

4. Take steps to combat mental health issues 

If you are a manager at your workplace or the head of your family, you are in a position to do something about the mental health of those around you. In corporate settings and personal lives, reactions can start from simply feeling burnt out. If not tackled at the first step, this stress can build up, leading to anxiety, depression, physical diseases, and even self-harm at times. When you are focused on raising awareness toward health-related issues, don’t let this happen on your watch. 

Create an environment where team members and your children have the confidence to talk to you about what they may be suffering from. Alleviate their issues by judging what they need. At times, people are just looking to be heard. All it takes is a bit of your time, but its impact on the other person is substantial. For a more extensive approach, you can also take part in community-based mental health projects. 

5. Be thankful to caregivers 

There are roughly 78 million people across the US who care for different family members and not in a professional capacity. These people draw no benefits out of this, and they only do it out of the goodness of their hearts and love for the family. They may not demand anything, but as a member of the community or society, you must appreciate their efforts. 

A simple gesture of saying thanks can go a long way in uplifting these people’s morale. Caring for someone with any illness may get stressful and lonely at times. At the end of the day, these caregivers are still humans who can suffer from down states. Thanking them and making efforts to help them can give you a sense of happiness and relieve some stress off these caregivers too. 

6. Make efforts to boost community well-being 

Internationally, the week between the 2nd and 6th of November is celebrated as Global Leaders in Well-being Week, during which the benefits of healthy well-being, including emotional, financial, physical, career, social, and environmental welfare, are brought to light. This may be the ideal time for you as a member of your company or your family to highlight a variety of health and well-being programs that offer support for the physical and emotional health of those around you. Even if you don’t do this during November, you can continue to make year-round efforts that benefit people you work with or family members. 

Conclusion 

Raising awareness about health-related issues doesn’t just require talking about them, but also necessitates on-ground efforts from every able member of society. Even the simplest of actions can mean a significant difference for the person or, at times, an entire community. From physical to mental and social well-being, people can talk to family members, friends, and work colleagues to fill in knowledge gaps about diagnosis, treatments, and a host of other processes that can facilitate them in leading longer, healthier lives.
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