 |
| Image Credit: Pixabay |
{This is a collaborative post}
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.