Sunday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day. This day is meant to raise awareness and support mental health issues. This day provides a wonderful opportunity for those in the mental health field to talk about their work. It puts a spotlight on something that we should all be concerned and conscious about. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 Americans ages 18 and older suffers from a diagnosed mental disorder each year. And many suffer from more than one mental disorder at a time. In addition, these numbers are on the rise due to the shelter in place orders we were given last year. While these orders were implemented to keep us physically safe from COVID-19, it has had a negative impact on mental health.
Regardless of if you have mental health issues or not, let’s look at some ways we can reflect and improve on our own mental health.
- Make Time for Self-Care. Make yourself a priority. Our mental health is negatively impacted when we don’t take the time to fill up our cup. This could include meditation, reading, taking a bubble bath, or going for a massage. Whatever it is, make sure you take time for yourself. As the saying goes, “you cannot pour from an empty cup.”
- Disconnect from Electronics. Think about adding time into your day where you are electronic-free. Unplugging and disconnecting can be a great way to tend to your mental health.
- Take Care of Your Body. Try to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise, and get enough sleep. We cannot achieve good mental health if we are not taking care of our physical self.
- Breathe Deep. Sometimes, just taking a few deep breaths makes all the difference in the world. Take in a nice, slow, deep breath. Start from the belly and slowly expand through your ribs, chest, and lungs (diaphragmatic breathing). Counting can help as well. Count to five as you breathe in, and count to five as you breathe out.
- Get Help if Needed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. While there are plenty of things you can do on your own to take care of your mental health, sometimes it requires the help of a professional. There is no shame in asking for support.
While our world may not be back to where it was pre-pandemic, we are certainly seeing improvement. Being able to spend time with family and friends and do some of the things we used to do, like attending larger events, is certainly beneficial to our mental health. But, it is important that we all take the time to check-in on our mental health and seek professional help as needed. This is something that is important each and every day.