Mental health awareness month is celebrated every year in May. It was started by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization that dedicates the entire month of May to raising people’s awareness of mental health, as well as an effort to reduce the negative stigma people have towards mental health issues.
Each year, mental health awareness month has its own theme. In 2024, MHA’s theme is “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World”. This theme is based on the ever-evolving world that makes it difficult to cope with challenges and changes. The pressures of work, relationships and other factors can affect our mental health more than we realize. While society has become more comfortable discussing mental health, it is still difficult to know “where to start” when these pressures impact our mental health.
Mental health is one aspect of health that must be taken seriously. A person with good mental health has an inner condition that is in a peaceful, calm and positive state, so that it allows a person to enjoy everyday life and appreciate others around. Conversely, if mental health receives less attention, mental disorders can arise that can affect our health and interfere with our daily lives, starting from thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Here are some ways you can maintain your mental health:
- Love yourself
Start taking care of your mental health by respecting yourself. Practice the habit of seeing yourself positively. Make time for your positive hobbies to make you happy. Also, don’t compare yourself too often with others.
- Excersice regularly
Not only is it beneficial for physical health, but it turns out that regular exercise also has a positive impact on mental health. By doing physical activity, you can increase the production of endorphin, a hormone that can improve your mood and reduce stress. Also, avoid bad habits such as smoking and taking drugs.
- Get enough rest
Reporting from Halodoc, a large number of studies show that lack of sleep has a negative effect on mood. In addition, when work starts to feel overwhelming, try to take a short break until you feel better. This aims to reduce your stress level in completing work.
- Maintain good relationships with others
Someone who has good social relationships with their environment is proven to be better able to cope with stress. In addition, by having good relationships with others, you can also share stories or complaints about life with people you trust.
- Write down the things you are grateful for
You can end your day by writing about the things you are grateful for that day. You can record them in your journal or in some other form. Writing down the things you are grateful for every day can improve your mood.
Start implementing the above habits in your daily life to maintain your mental health. If you find it difficult or feel like you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. That way, you can get appropriate treatment for your mental health condition.
