October 10 is World Mental Health Day, a day to promote mental health education and support mental health awareness programs. Each year, The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) highlights a specific theme and, for 2019, its focus is “Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention.”
Spreading Awareness about Mental Health Issues
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29 year-olds. Unfortunately, there is still a social stigma and shame surrounding this issue. Accurate information and education about suicide can save lives. The Society for the Prevention of Teenage Suicide (SPTS) is an organization whose mission is “to reduce the number of youth suicides and attempted suicides by encouraging public awareness through the development and promotion of educational training programs.” My daughter, Julia, volunteered as an SPTS Youth Council leader and penned this blog post about handling overwhelm while she was a high school senior. I think it will resonate with any teenager in your life. To learn more about The Society for the Prevention of Teenage Suicide, visit this website.
Furthering our own knowledge about mental health and talking about it openly also helps. Everyone faces stress and struggles in their daily lives but, for many, this struggle is overwhelming. This is why it is so important to reach out to them when necessary and remind them that help is always available.
We can all help spread awareness by using the hashtags #WorldMentalHealthDay and #ItsOkayNotToBeOkay when posting on social media this week.
For more information about World Mental Health Day, visit this website.
Practicing Self-Care
World Mental Health Day is a good time to remember to be kind to others. But it is also a good time to remember to be kind to yourself. Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is important for your own physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Whenever I am feeling stressed out, I like to clean my house or reorganize my closets. Bringing order to my space always leaves me with a sense of calm. If I feel overwhelmed by all the things I have to do, I make lists or fill out my planner for the upcoming week.
Other ways to practice self-care are booking an exercise class at the gym or even getting a manicure/pedicure. You will be surprised how a short walk or a new coat of nail polish can improve your day!
Here are some simple ways you can incorporate self-care into your daily life:
- breathe/meditate
- take a walk outdoors
- call a friend
- buy yourself some flowers
- pet an animal
- soak in a long bath
- eat something healthy
- eat something decadent
- make a craft
- write a letter
- exercise
- take a nap
- read a book
- cook something new
- write in a journal
- plan a future getaway or vacation
- do something nice for someone
Download this Weekly Self-Care Planner to help incorporate a little self-care into your weekly routine. And please share in the comments below what World Mental Health Day means to you.
