What if we treated mental health like physical health?

What if we treated mental health like physical health?  

Let my preface this before starting that physical health is absolutely important and should continue to be focused on around the world. My post is solely to focus on what if mental health was just as prioritized as physical health is? Would we see the changes we do in the physical world in the mental health world too? 

We continue to see the obesity rates go up around the world and as the physical rate declines, the more advertisement we see on the importance of eating healthy, going to the gym, multiple medications being created to help lose weight, etc. However, the decline in mental health continues to go up as well and we do not see near as much publicity on how to overcome anxiety, stress, etc. Why? 

Obesity rates in America have reached 37% in 2025 

Suicide rates in American have reached 49,300 deaths in 2023 

US Ad spending on physical health exceeded $30 billion in 2024

US Ad spending on mental health through telehealth companies spent $1.4 billion as of 2022 

So, what if we treated mental health like physical health? 

Just like primary care physical check-ups with a doctor, primary and routinely mental health check-ups could lead to many people becoming more comfortable discussing their mental health if they grew up with normalized and mandatory appointments on mental health checkups, leading to a less likely factor of individual's feeling "weak" or "unnormal" for the way they feel. Just as someone wouldn't ignore a physical symptom such as a broken bone or a fever, this would help many not ignore symptoms of mental health concerns and to seek help instead of being told to "not worry about it". It could advice for many more people to take mental health serious just as they do physical health. 

Our "Balanced Boutique Canvas Tote Bag" is the perfect incorporation to your life. This can double as a bag to carry around your needed essentials for your mental health journey while also allowing you to pack your physical essentials, such as gym attire, healthy snacks, water, etc. Shop here! The Balanced Boutique Canvas Tote Bag | CafePress

• Treating mental illnesses as a medical condition will increasingly lower the chances of an individual suffering mentally their whole life. 
• Encourages open conversation making the majority not feel as alone, "different" or embarrassed.
• Focusing on mental health can overall improve your physical wellbeing. In my personal opinion, when I'm feeling depressed or having anxiety I do not want to go to the gym. Yes, working out can help release the tension pent up in your brain, but when you are mentally suffering how will you motivate your brain to get you to where you need to go to help your body out too? 

The "What if's" are endless, and it isn't impossible to get there.