Health News – Medical, Mental and Dental Treatment – Beauty, Nutrition and Fitness – CNN.com.

I scan the headlines every day for mental health related articles to inspire me and blog about.  Unfortunately, it’s like finding a needle in a hay stack.

Yet 1 out of 5 Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.

I included the link above to CNN’s health section to prove the point.

Foxnews and MSNBC are pretty much just as devoid of mental health within their health sections.

To be fair, there is the occasional mental health related article.

However, when stress is said to be the cause of up to 75% of all physical illnesses, including some cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, you would think there would be a little more focus, information and education on the subject.

This isn’t a referendum on the media.  At most it is a statement about our culture.  We keep looking for the quick and easy fix, especially if it comes in pill form.

Treating mental health gets at the source of the problems, it doesn’t come in a pill, and there’s a significant stigma surrounding it.

And let’s face it, some of us prefer sweeping the problem under the rug, popping a pill and chasing it with an alcoholic beverage.

That’s the truth (for many – maybe most).

But that won’t fix you.

It may actually indirectly, or even directly, kill you (e.g. prescription – addiction – overdose.  Think: Heath Ledger, Brittney Murphy, Michael Jackson).

So …

We are NOT saying that there isn’t a place for medication.  There most definitively is.  Neither is this posting a sales pitch for therapy.

This post is an open ended question.

Why does our culture prefer the “quick” fix over the real fix?

Why don’t we look at the future as our partner, rather than as the enemy?

Why is patience not just a virtue, but a rarity?

Why are we all so darn scared to face the fact that we probably will need mental health help throughout our lives – and that it’s not just ok, but necessary if you desire to live a happy, well-adjusted, fulfilling life.

When we strive for excellence in music, we take on a music teacher.

When it’s athletics we want to excel at, we look to our coaches.

If it’s business we want success in, we connect with our mentors.

But for most, if it’s happiness they are looking for, the last thought to cross their mind is to meet with a therapist.

Go.  Right now.  Even if you think your life is perfect.

Because even the greatest musicians, artists and athletes constantly practice to maintain their crafts and skills.

When’s the last time you’ve practiced good mental health?

Do it.  Daily.  You’ll get really good at it.  What do you think your life will look like then?