May is Mental Health Awareness Month! While mental health is important to address year-round, Mental Health Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices to broadcast the message that mental health matters!
The theme “You Matter” is intended to remind you that no matter who you are, where you are from, or what you are going through, you belong here and matter to the people in your life and community. Whether it is through advocacy, education, community engagement, or direct action in your own lives, “You Matter” reflects our commitment to creating a world where everyone’s mental health is valued and supported, no matter who they are.
Each week, I will use the Minnesota Department of Health’s Toolkit to raise awareness and provide actionable tips and resources around mental health and suicide prevention. It will include key messages for discussion, as well as images and additional web resources.
Week 1: Your Mental Health Matters. We all have mental health. It affects how we think, feel, and act every day. Just like with our physical health, we can do things that make us mentally healthier. When you feel mentally well, you’re more able to manage the stress and challenges you face in life, feel better about yourself, and engage in fulfilling activities and relationships.
Exploring your mental health will help you better understand what you need to support your mental well-being. Mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being. We all have tough days and weeks, and everyone manages their mental health every day. The best way to protect mental health is to pay attention to it, even when you are feeling okay or even good. Becoming more aware of what disrupts your mental health will help you learn what actions, tools, and resources may be useful to help you when you need it. Taking proactive steps to understand and care for your mental well-being isn’t just self-care, it is an investment in your future.
Experiencing poor mental health is not the same as having a mental health condition. “Mental illness” refers to a set of symptoms that have been identified by a health provider. People with mental health conditions experience change in emotions, thinking, and/or behavior. For some, this means extreme and unexpected changes in mood, like feeling more sad than normal. For others, it means not thinking clearly, pulling away from friends and activities you used to enjoy, or hearing voices that others do not. Mental illness is treatable and is not always a permanent state of being.
The opportunities and resources we have available in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities can help support our mental health and well-being. Mental health is about what we do as individuals and how we are supported in our communities. For example, neighborhoods and organizations can provide resources that support your sense of belonging, connectedness, and mental well-being.
- Taking steps to explore your mental health will help you learn what you need to support your mental well-being. Take action by checking on your mental health with a free, quick, anonymous test at Take a Mental Health Test – Mental Health America.
- Research has found several ways that you can keep yourself healthy. Check out these Keys to Mental Wellbeing from Berkeley University Greater Good Magazine.
- Mental Health is around us, but is often misunderstood. The Roadmap to Mental Health by the Mental Health Coalition can explain what we mean when we say “mental health.”
- Every individual, family, organization and community can promote mental health and well-being. Practicing gratitude and savoring are two individual exercises that can enhance our positive experiences in life. See Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program for practical ideas to help you.
Stay tuned for next week’s message, as I discuss practicing and prioritizing self-care. Be sure to stop in the library and check out our book display that we have up and you can browse our Online Catalog for more selections. We also have some special programs and community presentations scheduled at the library for Mental Health Month. We hope you can join us!
Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~
