Ways to Observe Mental Health Awareness Month

May has been designated Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949 to encourage society to recognize mental health issues, shine a light on them, and make it easier for people to seek treatment without stigma. It is also a time to celebrate recovery from mental health issues.

The term mental health encompasses an expansive range of factors that affect a person’s wellness. Social, emotional, and psychological well-being are all parts of mental health. When a person is experiencing mental health issues, the adverse effects can extend beyond the mental aspect and result in undesirable physical effects as well.

On this page, you’ll learn about several ways to participate in Mental Health Awareness Month.

Get In Touch With Your Mental Health

Although we think we know ourselves best, it can be eye-opening to take a mental health assessment and get to know more about how you are really doing mentally.

Many health insurance companies encourage policyholders to take online assessments to determine whether they should schedule an appointment with a mental health professional.

There are also free online mental health assessments available to anyone, with or without insurance. Take a few minutes to get a better gauge of where your mental health lies.

Schedule a Therapy Session

These days, people are far more open about attending therapy than they were in past decades. Going to therapy is better recognized how it should be: as a healthy practice and means of taking care of yourself.

Fortunately, attending a therapy session is easier than ever before because of the ability to meet with a therapist virtually. Therapy sessions can take place at a time and location that is convenient for you.

There are also several apps that connect people to therapists, making it easier to find a practitioner that suits your needs.

Check-In on Loved Ones

Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to take a moment to check-in on the people you care about. It only takes a minute to send a text, an email, or make a phone call and ask how your loved one is doing. That small act of compassion can have a tremendous effect on the person.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness, much like mental health, is an umbrella term for a wealth of activities you can partake in that support your mental health and wellness. Some of the various ways to practice mindfulness include:

• Meditation.
• Mindful breathing.
• Yoga.
• Gardening.
• Practicing a body scan.
• Starting a gratitude journal.
• Taking a walk in nature.

Spend Time With Others

Spending time with others and maintaining your social connections can positively impact your health and wellness. You can stay connected with others any number of ways; phone a friend, meet them at a coffee shop for a chat, or attend an exercise class together. These are just a few ideas to start!

Seek Help

One of the most important things to know is that you are not alone. If you or someone you care about experiences a mental health crisis or needs support, there are resources available:

• For immediate help in a mental health crisis, call or text 988. The 988 Lifeline connects people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis with free and confidential emotional support. It is staffed 24/7.
• FindTreatment.gov lets you search for providers that treat mental health issues or substance use disorders. 
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, 24/7, confidential, information service that can help you get referred to a local treatment center for mental health and/or substance use disorders.

At Oxford Treatment Center, a drug and alcohol rehab in Mississippi, we offer co-occurring disorder treatment that addresses mental health issues as well as substance use issues.

For many people, these are related and each illness impacts the other. To learn more about how we treat mental health disorders and addiction, call now.

Our caring admissions navigators can answer your questions and help you start the admissions process. Please don’t wait to get the help you deserve.