Not too long ago I was having a conversation with a colleague over coffee when a woman approached me, young child in tow. The woman politely tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to say hello to you, Dr. Phil.” Without hesitation, her child stared at me, squinting with a perplexed look and turned to her mother saying, “But he doesn’t look like that on TV.” I placed my face close to the child’s, patted her on the head, smiled and said, “I’m the real Dr. Phil. That other guy on TV became Dr. Phil after I did.”
While I stand by my assertion, it doesn’t change a commonality the “other” Dr. Phil and I share. Health is not just about one’s physical well-being. It also involves a person’s state of mind. With all of the health initiatives being implemented in our community, I am often asked if Healthy New Albany will be addressing mental health. And I remain steadfast in my answer. Yes, we will address topics such as depression, anxiety and stress. Achieving good health is not limited to the absence of physical conditions such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis.
In this issue, you will have the opportunity to read articles about mental health such as stress and the college application process and innovative strategies to improve emotional well-being.
While I don’t have my own TV show or a following of millions, that does not limit me in my quest to help promote a healthy community through the implementation of sound mental health programs and services.
And one more thing – neither makeup, facial additions nor Photoshop will transform my image to the extent that people will tell me that I haven’t changed from the time I was a regular on Oprah.
