Being mentally well means being in touch with your own emotional health, and proactively taking care of yourself to stay ahead of problems. It also involves having healthy relationships, plus maintaining good coping skills so you can bounce back when challenged by difficult circumstances in life.
- If you’re new to working on your mental wellbeing, try taking one small step toward being healthier, and stick with it.
- Each day, make sure to do activities — such as creative hobbies — that are meaningful to you. Identify and work into your schedule the activities that reliably help you relax and recharge.
- Strive to get 30 minutes of exercise per day, plus eat a balanced diet, and get 7-9 hours of sleep nightly.
- Try some mindfulness. Slow down during your day and fully experience the present moment.
Throughout the entire month of January, there are a number of nationally recognized themes that you can help promote, including:
- Mental Wellness Month
- Mindfulness, Self-Care, and the New Year
This month, Stamp Out Stigma is taking the opportunity to bring more awareness around mental health after the new year. We will be highlighting the importance of self-care habits to try as 2023 begins, as well as share resources and tips on how to spread mental health awareness to others. Throughout January, we will encourage family, friends, and loved ones to prioritize their mental health in the new year.
- 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental illness.
- Thirty percent of survey participants reported having a mental illness or receiving treatment for a mental illness. Black and African American men are particularly concerned about stigma.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is estimated to affect 10 million Americans.
- Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
- 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.
- LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their sexual orientation and gender identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide.
- Nearly 60% of adults with a mental illness didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year.
Learn more about Mental Wellbeing Month on the Mind Your Mental Health webpage.