May is Mental Health Month

The #4mind4body challenge is available for anyone to participate in during the month of May.

Learn about mental health, share what you do to stay well, see what others are doing

For more information, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable.  So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally – it’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery.

Explore ways to boost mental health and general wellness

• animal companionship,
• spirituality and religion,
• humor,
• work-life balance,
• recreation, and
• social connections

A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It can also help people recover from these conditions.

There are things you can do that may help. Finding a reason to laugh, going for a walk with a friend, meditating, playing with a pet, or working from home once a week can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy. The company of animals – whether as pets or service animals— can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to recover from illnesses. A pet can be a source of comfort and can help us to live mentally healthier lives. And whether you go to church, meditate daily, or simply find time to enjoy that cup of tea each morning while checking in with yourself – it can be important to connect with your spiritual side in order to find that mind-body connection.

Use social media?  Help raise awareness about the connection between physical health and mental health, through the theme #4Mind4Body