Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated in the United States from May 1, 2022 to May 31 2022. This observance was started by the Mental Health Care organization in 1949. Each year has a different theme and organizations interested in mental health conduct various activities based on that year’s theme.
Mental Health Awareness Month, 2022
For 2022, the theme of Mental Health Awareness Month is ‘Back to Basics’. The aim is to provide basic knowledge about mental health and information and how people can act if their mental health is a cause for concern.
Different people face different issues and we cannot generalize mental conditions and their symptoms. If you are facing any kind of mental health issue, the first thing you need to do is to discuss it with the right person. It can be your friend, a close relative or your partner. If they cannot help you, consult a professional mental health specialist.
Strategies to Maintain Good Mental Health
Here are some things you can do to maintain good emotional health
- Learn to cope with stress: Practice breathing techniques. This will help ease stress and strain and also improve your presence of mind. Meditation, yoga and tai chi can also reduce stress and improve physical health.
- Get enough sleep: Stress and anxiety can cause sleeping problems or make existing ones worse. The brain needs enough rest in order to work properly. Moreover, not getting enough sleep can affect your mood and lead to irritability and even depression So don’t lose sleep – develop good practices like going to bed at the same time every night, turning off screens when you’re in bed, and avoid caffeine before bedtime.
- Maintain good relationships: It is necessary to maintain your strong, healthy relationships. Connect with family and friends, get involved with your community or neighborhood or volunteer for a local organization or join a group that shares your hobbies.
- Stay positive: Take things as positively as you can. It might be difficult in the initial days but it will slowly become a habit.
- Spend time outdoors: Getting enough sunlight and fresh air has a great role to play in improving mental health. Sunlight is the greatest source of vitamin D which definitely has significance in boosting mood and emotional balance.
- Exercise: Regular exercise can rejuvenate your mind. Studies show that exercises such as jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing can reduce anxiety and depression.
- Maintain a work-life balance: While meeting your deadlines at work, make sure you have enough time for friends and hobbies.
When the pandemic led to lockdowns, social isolation affected the mental wellbeing of millions of people across the world. Stress, loneliness and uncertainty triggered mental instability. As we celebrate Mental Health Month, make sure your mental health gets as much attention as your physical health does.
