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#MotivationMonday: Mental Health Awareness Month

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

It’s the last week of Mental Health Awareness month, but that doesn’t mean we should stop checking in with ourselves and advocating for increased awareness of mental illness. As someone who suffers from anxiety, depression, and OCD, I can state with absolute certainty that mental health is something that requires 24/7 attention, just like our physical health.

Source: National Association of Mental Illness

It can be really hard to talk about our mental health. It takes a lot of trust to open yourself up to that kind of vulnerability.

If you’re finding it difficult to talk about your mental health, try the following: 

  • Send a text. Sometimes it’s easier to carefully choose our words and write them down instead of speaking them aloud.
  • Find some info. See if you can direct your friends/family to a website that describes what you’re feeling. It may help them know how to help you. Print it out and bring it with you when you find someone you feel comfortable talking to.

If someone wants to talk to you about their mental health: 

  • Listen. Wait until they’ve finished talking before you speak.
  • If you’ve gone through something similar, tell them. Say “I understand.” It helps me to know that I’m not alone. But don’t make it about you. Make sure you keep the focus on them.
  • Be available to talk again if they need it.
  • Find info. Doing research online about mental health may help you better understand what they are going through.

Know who to call. 

If this is a crisis, please contact a hotline or reach out to someone who can help. If you are concerned about someone else, check out this resource and learn how to help.

Please take a minute today to check in with yourself.

Take a minute to check in with someone else.

Talk about it. You are not alone.

Resources

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (USA) 800-273-8255 (available 24/7)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (USA) 800-799-7233 (available 24/7)

National Sexual Assault Hotline (USA) 800-656-4673 (available 24/7)

If you know of mental health resources available in your country, please feel free to comment them below so I can add them to the list!