World Mental Health Day: 5 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Mental Health + Resources
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is observed every October 10 in an effort to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize support for those in need. The day also serves as an important reminder to not take our own mental health for granted.
Here are 5 things you can do to improve your overall Mental Health + Wellness.
1. Connect with other people
Good relationships are important for your mental well-being. They can:
help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth
give you an opportunity to share positive experiences
provide emotional support and allow you to support others
2. Be physically active
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood
3. Learn new skills
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
helping you to build a sense of purpose
helping you to connect with others
Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.
4. Give to others
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
helping you connect with other people
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.
5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health issues, contact your Employee Assistance Program. We offer free, confidential counseling and other resources to get you back to feeling your best.
During this time of year burnout is affecting people everywhere. Here are some brief training sessions that may help: