May is the designated awareness month for a number of important topics, among them wildfire, women’s health and mental health.
This week, we’d like to highlight Mental Health Month, which was founded by Mental Health America in 1949.
Mental health awareness is incredibly important, both for our own success and to help add to the things around us — our families, our communities, the places we call home.
We’re particularly fond of this year’s theme: “More Good Days, Together.”
As the organization states, “This year’s theme — More Good Days, Together — encourages us all to reflect on what a ‘good’ day looks like, both for ourselves, and for our communities. Together, we can use that insight to connect people to the right support at the right time, and shape advocacy, education, and community engagement to make more good days possible for all.”
Good days can look different for everyone, and what a good day is can vary greatly depending on our season of life and numerous factors. Those are important things to remember as we interact with each other each day. One person could be having the best day of their life, but another may be just trying to get through the day due to factors like loss, grief, heartbreak, financial stress or medical issues.
It’s also important to remember focusing on mental health isn’t a weakness. It’s something we should all be doing to be stronger and healthier all the way around.
As Mental Heath America explains, “You cannot separate mental health from physical health. They are equally important and deeply connected. Things like sleep, stress, movement, nutrition, and existing health conditions all play a role in how we feel, both mentally and physically. Although many factors that affect our health are beyond our control, noticing what we can influence is important for our well-being. Whether it’s finding ways to move that you enjoy, connecting with your community, or remembering to drink water — small wins matter.”
And those small wins can turn into big wins as more folks focus on their health and having good days. And we can help that along through encouraging one another.
“Having more good days isn’t a solo mission,” Mental Health America tells us (we absolutely agree). “Check in with friends, colleagues, and loved ones to see how they’re feeling, and offer support and encouragement. Connection is protection, and you don’t have to carry the weight of ‘not-so-good’ days alone. Even small moments of connection, whether in person or virtual, can reduce stress and anxiety, and remind us we’re not the only ones feeling what we’re feeling. When we look out for one another, more good days become possible for all of us.”
When so much of the world seems fraught with tension, finding more ways to connect, finding the good, finding what we have in common and supporting each other is critical.
The Mental Health Month website, https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month/, features numerous resources to help us all have more good days.
And, as always, if you’re in crisis or immediate need, call or text 988 or chat via 988lifeline.org. Free, confidential support is available 24/7. Your mental health matters. You matter.
Randi Pierce
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