Self Care to Promote Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 1 in 5 US adults experience mental illness each year (47.7 million people): 37% of them identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Under the current climate we live in, we all face challenges that can impact our mental health. Now, more than ever, it is essential to find creative techniques to boost self-care to stay in a good state of mind. 

Find healthy ways to manage stress. Many people choose to do activities such as exercise, painting, cooking, and reading to lower stress levels. Whatever you do, be consistent and always schedule a time to ground yourself and be present. 

Set goals to stay motivated. Knowing how to stay motivated is important with so many distractions currently around us. We recommend you to set small goals for yourself each day. This will train your brain to feel accomplished and will motivate you to get things done. 

Stay connected to your support group. Isolation affects us all differently. Staying in constant contact with those you love will remind you that you are not alone. Find ways to communicate with friends and family regularly through text, phone calls, or video chats.. Find close friends who are open to talking about your vulnerabilities and help them open up about theirs. We can all help each other restore joy in our lives when a situation feels unbearable. 

If you need someone to talk to, there are free resources available to everyone in our community.