May is Mental Health Awareness Month. That makes this the perfect time for all of us to pause and assess our mental health, especially given all that’s happened over the past year. When we fail to be mindful of our health as a whole, stress, anxiety, and even the day-to-day pressures of life can build into something bigger.
Did you know that focusing on mental health care can increase productivity, enhance our self-image, and improve relationships? That is why mental health is wealth! Unfortunately, we do not prioritize our mental health as much as we should. Mental health is a huge issue in the United States and there are shocking statistics to prove it.
When we consider the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 5 adults experience at least one mental health condition every year, it’s hard to deny that we need to start making mental health awareness more of a priority. Nurturing mental health doesn’t just improve our daily functioning, but it can also help us control – or at least combat – some of the physical health problems directly linked to mental health conditions.
So, for the month of May, we want you to be kind to your mind, and focus more on your mental health!
Check-in on your own mental health and learn the warning signs:
An easy way to determine whether you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a mental health screening. The Mental Health America website offers free screenings for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and other conditions.
Learn warning signs & Find out Where to Get Help
Consider local classes for parents of kids going through mental health issues, or peer-to-peer groups classes when experiencing these issues, yourself.
How to look after your mental health:
Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. If you have good mental health, you can:
- Make the most of your potential
- Cope with life
- Play a full part in your family, workplace, community, and among friends
It’s important to take care of yourself and get the most from life. We have all had times when we feel down, stressed, or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass, but sometimes they develop into a more serious problem, and this could happen to any one of us. Learn about 10 practical ways to look after your mental health with this ‘How To’, that you can download for FREE.