Bridge to Wellness
Turn mental health awareness into action
by Sarah Wilczynski
May is Mental Health Month, and this year, Mental Health America (MHA) is calling for individuals to turn mental health awareness into action. MHA is the nation’s leading, community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting overall mental health for all.
It’s important to prioritize YOU, including your mental health! Let’s look at some ways you can do that this month.
- Increase Resource Awareness: If you were to need support during a crisis, had a friend you were concerned about, or wanted to learn more about a mental health topic, do you know where to look? It’s always a great idea to be aware of resources before you need them. Take some time to learn what’s available in your area. 211.org can be a great place to start.
- Learn: Take time to learn more about mental health challenges, the power of boundary setting, coping skills, how food can affect your mood, or any of a long list of mental health topics. MHA has information on a variety of topics at mhanational.org.
- Explore New Places: In sociology the concept of “a third place” is introduced. This is a social place, outside of work and home, that allows you to connect with others. Examples often include churches, coffee shops, and parks, but there are no limits to where this place could be. The hope is that your “third place” improves your mood, mental health, and connection with others.
- Make a Plan: Once you’ve spent time learning about available resources, honing new skills, and exploring places that make you feel good, plan on how to put these to good use in your everyday life. It can take time to make these things a habit, so give yourself grace during the process.
- Rest: In a society where we often measure the success of a person by how much they do, we can often forget to rest. This includes the obvious—getting adequate sleep—but it also applies to taking breaks from everyday tasks and giving yourself a minute to decompress. It’s not always easy to make the time, but people find themselves more productive after taking a break.
Now that you have a few ideas of how you can take action to improve your own mental health this month, the question is; where are you going to start?
To learn more about MHA, visit mhanational.org.
This column is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition. Sarah Wilczynski is the mental health awareness and training coordinator at Chelsea Hospital.
