Mental Health May: 5 Tips for Practicing Mental Wellness
Mental Health May: 5 Tips for Practicing Mental Wellness
Although 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness during their lifetime, everyone will face challenges to their mental wellbeing. Especially during times like this, when a global pandemic is changing life as we know it. These days, many are struggling with added stress from job loss, working while parenting full time, loneliness from being quarantined in their homes for so long.
Deaf and hard of hearing youth are more likely to experience mental health issues due to additional stressors resulting from communication barriers and negligence. Increases in depression and suicide have caused individuals and organizations to create campaigns to spread awareness of mental health and reduce stigma around it.
We encourage everyone to seek help if they are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or suicidal. There is no quick fix for mental wellbeing, but there are tips and tricks to help things get better. As part of our efforts to support Mental Health May, we want to share with you 5 tips for practicing mental wellness:
Engage – Check in with the people you care about whether they are family members or friends. Spend time with people who give you positive energy and help you give positive energy back.
Take Care – Diet, sleep, and exercise can make a huge difference in your emotional and physical wellbeing. Eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, sleeping for at least 6 hours and exercising once a day can make a big difference.
Relax – Unplug from social media and the internet more often to decrease your stress. Try meditation, writing, reading, cooking, painting, drawing or getting your nails done. Do whatever makes you feel more at peace with yourself and the world around you.
Practice Mindfulness – The Art of Mindfulness is focusing on the present moment. Try thinking about 3 things that you are grateful for right now and remind yourself to do this several times throughout the day. If you pay attention to who you are and where you are in that moment, you may discover that there is a lot to be thankful for.
Talk to Someone – Talking to a licensed professional is always the best way to go, but in the event that you are not ready or able to access one, talk with someone you trust. Be it a parent, a friend or a mentor. Don’t be afraid to share when you are struggling.
If you are struggling with your mental health or know someone struggling with theirs, try following some of the tips above. If you are someone or know someone having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention hotline 1-800-273-8255 (VR) or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org to chat with someone online.
Additionally, if you are deaf or hard of hearing and are looking for deaf-friendly mental health resources, we encourage you to check out National Deaf Therapy’s free (and paid) offerings. Read more about Mental Health Month at Mental Health America. For more tools and resources, visit www.csd.org/media or contact us @ThisIsCSD on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.