You know, we live in a time where it is considered chic to mention mental health — it is the trendy thing to do. The need for a balanced mental health has led to the idea that humor is the panacea to those things which ail our mental health.
Travelling down that rabbit hole has led to an unending search for ‘good vibes’ and comic relief wherever we can find it. Every bit of news or information, at every turn, grim or uplifting is somewhat turned into the source of the next joke. And we hop on and off these news trends easily, at the snap of fingers, like an addict chasing their next dopamine high.
However, as inebriating as it feels, humor does not necessarily solve the crux of the problem — at least, not the way we handle it. Nobody really cares about solutions (as long as it does not benefit them directly and instantly). We just treat everything on face value, afraid to dig deep or poke the bear. It is a facade of thriving mental health; damming currents and frightful waves of despair and sadness.
To find a solution, you actually have to ponder on the depth of the problem, something we would rather not do. Instead we come up with corny jokes and memes to hide the fact that we are not mentally ready. Constantly, the seams of our mental frailty are threatening and assaulted; however like the biblical cup, we shake it together and press it down but pray it does not rip apart and run over.
I believe we should allow for vulnerability; allow for mental breakdowns. A good cry would probably help. If that is what would lead us to proffering solutions, instead of just jokes, then so be it. If you offer just jokes and no solutions, I believe you should take a backseat to those who are attempting to do both. The head which designs the jokes is also capable of conjuring solutions.
Udo diri unu.
