May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect, advocate, and share our stories to further develop mental health and mental health resources. Mental health has become an increasingly important topic over the last few years, and May is the perfect time each year to fully comprehend the struggles and consider what must be done to improve our care. 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience a mental illness, but even beyond that, everyone is faced with challenges that impact their mental health.
The theme for 2023 is “Look Around, Look Within” and emphasizes the importance of recognizing external impacts on our mental health. Understanding the potential determinants of our mental health (for example the safety of our housing, environment, neighborhood, and exposure to nature), is very important in understanding what access and care we need, how to improve our mental health, and changing the attitude surrounding mental health stigmas.
Self-care is a great way to prioritize mental health. Here are some easy self-care tips to improve and maintain your mental health!
Practicing Self-Care for Mental Health:
- Work on keeping a healthy sleep schedule: prioritize sleep!
- Stay connected to friends and family that can offer support.
- Set goals, make priorities, and don’t be afraid to say “no” if you have too much on your plate!
- Write your thoughts, feelings, and worries down on paper.
- Try a relaxation practice: yoga, coloring, meditation, a walk, etc.
- Practice mindfulness.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Mental health should be a priority. If you or a loved one are facing mental health challenges, our licensed clinicians and counselors are here to provide support. Call us today at (716)831-1800 or click here to learn more.
Resources:
GeneralMHFacts (nami.org)
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH -May 2023 – National Today
Mental Health Month | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
NIMH » Caring for Your Mental Health (nih.gov)
31 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)