May is Mental Health Month

Cheers to Mental Health

Every May, the world unites to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. Not that we think mental health awareness should be limited to just one month, but it is a great opportunity to highlight the growth and progress we have made in accepting the realities of mental health while also raising awareness to the barriers that still stand in our way.

This last year has been rough. We were amid of a pandemic, grasping at straws for information, a light at the end of the tunnel, a return to normalcy. Mental health was on our minds but taking care of it has been quite difficult and trying to celebrate it is even harder.  For Mental Health Awareness Month 2021, we want to CELEBRATE everything we have overcome this past year and continue to overcome. We want to honor the resilience of the mental health community, the lifesaving work done by our frontline and first responders, and the space and action needed for growth as a society with racial injustices across our nation. Lastly, we want to celebrate ourselves and how resilient we have been during this time.  Understanding the need to love ourselves and that self-care is so needed to keep peace within ourselves.  We may be bruised, but we are here – and we want to celebrate inclusively. 

Mental Health Month raises awareness of trauma and the impact in can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families and communities.

10 Tips for Good Mental Health

An important part of keeping fit and healthy is to take care of your own mental health. There are plenty of things you can do to help make sure you keep yourself mentally healthy.

1. Get Plenty of Sleep
2. Eat Well
3. Avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs
4. Get plenty of sunlight
5. Manage stress; take deep breathes, include mindfulness
6. Be active and exercise
7. Do something you enjoy
8. Connect with others and be sociable
9. Do things for others; volunteer, being active in the community
10. Ask for help; don’t become consumed with to much. It will cause you to feel overwhelmed and stressed.

Mental Health Resources

Chris 180-Fulton County Clubhouse for Youth: A program where adolescents (ages 13-17) can spend their out of school time learning tools, coping skills and socialization strategies to keep them safe and drug free.  Located in a neighborhood setting that fosters pride in the community.  The facility is located at 1480 Delowe Drive SW Atlanta, Ga 30311.  Transportation is provided.

Psychology.com-Psychology.com offers an easy way to get in touch with therapist who can offer you direction.