May is Mental Health Awareness Mo.

May is Mental Health Awareness month.

So, what is mental health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, spiritual, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. And it helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Positive mental health allows people to:

Realize their full potential

Cope with the stresses of life

Make meaningful contributions to their communities

Adapt to changing circumstances

Work productively

Some of the ways we maintain positive mental health include:

Staying connected to others

Staying connected to your culture

Keeping a positive attitude (not a refusal to acknowledge the negative)

Getting physically active and healthy

Helping others

Getting enough sleep, enough to eat

Keeping a balance of rest and activity

Learning and using coping skills

Developing meaning and purpose

Getting professional help if you need it (therapy and/or medications)

The last couple of years have brought challenges to many of us, especially those who were already at risk. It is important to remember that it is not weak to admit that you need help or that you are struggling. That too is a sign of positive mental health.

In future posts I will talk more about mental health challenges and specific diagnoses.