May is Mental Health Awareness Month. How are you spreading awareness and supporting yourself and others?

Here are a few things you can do for others during Mental Health Awareness Month:

Talk about mental health by sharing your own mental health journey.

Show empathy to others who are struggling.

Be patient and listen to understand, not to solve.

Share mental health resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Seek professional help if you do not know what to do to help someone or if you think they are a danger to themselves or others.

Here are a few things you can do for yourself during Mental Health Awareness Month:
Be honest about how you are feeling.

Take time to sit with yourself and journal. Write down all the amazing qualities you have, what you’re grateful for, or your favorite mantras. 

Try one of our self-care journals  - Link Here

Try meditation. Light a candle, play soft music, and sit with your eyes closed for a few minutes. Focus on your breathing and let any thoughts that arise pass right by. Start with two or three minutes and work your way up to 20. 

Realize when it is time to slow down or stop. Begin by recognizing harmful or self-sabotaging behaviors. Give yourself a break before overwhelm occurs by setting time limits on activities that can be draining.

Remove toxic people from your life.

Nourish your body with healthy food and lots of water.

Talk to a therapist or other mental health professional.

Take your prescribed medication responsibly and at the same time every day.

Watch positive TV or listen to uplifting music. Turn off the news and violent movies.

Go outside and spend time in nature. Set goals and imagine how it will feel to achieve them. 

Learn to say “no” to… things that are stressing you out.
Events that are keeping you too busy.
People that are expecting too much from you.
Tasks that are overwhelming.

What I have learned: Mental health issues impact everyone though the severity may differ. Let’s work together to stop the stigma and support one another.