Mental Health IS Health | Dr. Gail Saltz

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Over the last couple of years, there has been a newfound focus on mental health. However, stigma and shame is still the number one reason people don’t seek treatment for mental illness. Since mental health is health, it’s crucial that we start prioritizing mental health and the different therapies used to strengthen it.

WELCOME TO THE DARIN OLIEN SHOW

Dr. Gail Saltz wants us all to focus on our mental health, now more than ever.

Gail is the Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine. She is also the host of the podcast, How Can I Help?. Best known for her work as a relationship, family, emotional wellbeing, and mental health contributor in the media,  many outlets turn to Dr. Gail as a go-to expert for thoughtful commentary on all things mental health. And on top of all that, Dr. Saltz is also the author of numerous best-selling books like her latest, The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius.

While usually a sensitive topic for some, mental health has been thrust into the spotlight over the last couple of years. The pandemic was tough on all of us, for many different reasons, and our collective mental health was getting harder and harder to ignore. This has been exciting to see for those in the psychiatric field like Dr. Saltz. While she wishes we had always paid this much attention to mental illnesses and treatment, she’s happy it’s getting attention now.

The truth is,

almost half of Americans will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives. And the best way to deal with any mental illness is to seek treatment right away. But many people don’t know what kind of mental health treatment to look for. Or if they find treatment, they don’t stick with it long-term. 

In this conversation, Gail and I dive into all things mental health-related, including the stigma that comes with mental illness. These kinds of conversations should be normalized and should happen more often. While Dr. Saltz emphasized that diet and lifestyle do have an impact on mental health, there’s not a one-size-fits-all fix for mental illness. I’m sorry to say that you can’t just switch to a plant-based diet and expect all your mental health issues to disappear. It takes therapy, consistency, and real work. And since mental health is health, it’s time we figure out how to get started.