May is Mental Health Month, raising awareness of the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of families, communities, and even children. Susan Denecke, a Behavioral Health Counselor with Eagle View Community Health System, touches on coping skills to focus on:
“Getting enough rest. Eating well. Drinking water. Getting outside. When you are outside, it engages all your senses and helps you be grounded and focused away from those stressors and problems. Something that I really focus on now is self-care. Some different ideas you might not have thought of, saying no can be self-care, learning how to say no to people. Also, treating yourself as you would your friends, loving yourself as much as you love others, and also checking in on others, your family and your friends.”
While mental health is being discusses more, it can still be challenging of knowing where to start when it comes to taking care of your own well-being. This May, Mental Health America encourages focusing on learning how modern life affects one’s mental health, act by building a coping toolbox to manage stressors, emotions, or challenging situations, and advocate to improve mental health for yourself, friends and family, and the community.
