Mental Health Action Day
MTV Entertainment Group and nearly 200 other organizations have partnered together today, May 20, for the first-ever Mental Health Action Day.
People have become increasingly more comfortable discussing mental health, particularly since the pandemic, but many fall through the cracks in the space between awareness and action. Well-researched methods for boosting your emotional wellbeing include:
Self-Care. Improving your mental (and physical) health can start simply — focus on taking better care of yourself daily by eating better, going for a walk, listening to music, exercising, taking a soothing shower and getting enough sleep. Scheduling a few minutes of “me time” is a great way to take action today and every day.
Support. Talking about a difficult situation with a loved one, friend or coworker won’t make it go away. But being brave and sharing your feelings, especially the hard ones, will help you release tension, feel less lonely and perhaps even see the things in a new way.
Mindfulness. Practices to improve self-awareness and remain present in-the-moment can include meditation, deep breathing, yoga or journaling. These brief exercises take just a few minutes of time and help you re-center, calm your thoughts and be better able to cope with challenges. Visit the Mindfulness Toolkit for a variety of resources to get started.
Mental Health Professionals. Therapists, counselors and psychologists provide guidance and support to address emotional challenges like anxiety, depression, relationship issues, work stress, loss or substance misuse. Reach out to your EAP or MAP to access available counseling services.
In the wake of COVID-19, millions of people have uncovered new mental health conditions and millions more have had their existing challenges intensified. Action looks different for everyone and Mental Health Action Day encourages you to do what feels right for you.
