Posts

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Honor Mental Health

/in /by

Mental Health Awareness Month

We have been taught to smile through pain and to simply say “Fine” or “Good” when someone asks us how we are doing.  It has been modeled to us to wear masks and not show anyone what we are truly feeling.  Well, it’s okay to not be okay!  And you are not alone.  According to the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults live with mental health challenges and 1 in 6 children and adolescents experience a mental health condition each year.

Below are some intention-setting ideas for cultivating compassion and understanding to support mental health and for reducing stigma when our mental health is challenged:

  1. Share resources.   Only half of the people experiencing mental health challenges receive the support that is needed.  Consider visiting NAMI’s website to become more familiar with their signature programs and share the resources with others.
  2. Social media.  Perhaps participate in NAMI’s social media challenge to share how and why you are taking mental health moments, demonstrating that you are making your own mental health a priority.  NAMI requests that we use the hashtag #TakeAMentalHealthMoment in your posts.
  3. Attend an event.  Consider taking a more ‘active’ step by participating in NAMI’s award-winning NAMIWalks program.  With a goal of Mental Health for All, this is the largest mental health event in the country, taking place in more than 150 locations.
  4. Take the pledge.  Perhaps take the pledge to be stigma free.  Join me by visiting NAMI here to do so!
  5. Watch and learn.  Below are some movies or series to consider watching to learn more and exercise our heart’s compassion muscle:
    • Paper Spiders
    • Many Sides of Jane
    • Touched with Fire
    • Home
    • Please Like Me
    • Silver Linings Playbook
    • That Which I Love Destroys Me