The month of May is dedicated to Mental Health Awareness. It’s no secret that the last few years have been extremely challenging and hard on everyone’s mental health. From pandemics to politics, violence, and school shootings, everyone has suffered at some point.

This makes the month of May even more important. No matter who you are, your age, or the circumstances of your life—there is a chance that your mental health hasn’t been the best. It’s common for many people to keep it to themselves when they are struggling.

The Importance Of Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health has always been a topic that was seen as taboo to talk about. There has long been a lot of shame when someone doesn’t feel their absolute best or accomplish enough according to social standards. Mental health awareness is important because it helps to break the stigma surrounding it.

There is no shame in admitting that you aren’t okay. We are human, and we aren’t going to always feel our best. We won’t always have it all together. Or feel as if we are doing enough. This is all part of the wonderful but challenging experience of being a human being. Mental health awareness month brings the knowledge to everyone that, in some ways, yes, we are all struggling.

4 Ways To Celebrate Mental Health

1. Be introspective

Celebrating mental health awareness month means we sometimes must think about the tough stuff. In order to feel empathetic of other people’s mental health struggles, it’s important to know what is going on with ourselves. During the first few days of May, think about your own mental health. Have you felt off lately? Do you feel burned out or sad for no reason?

2. Reach out to someone you love

Checking in on other people means more to them than they might ever say. During this month, reach out to a few people or family members you haven’t talked to in a while. You don’t have to ask them how their mental health is. Just ask them what they have been up to lately. Or if they have any fun plans coming up. Ask them about work, even. Generally, asking someone about the different areas of their life can prompt them to open up to you.

3. Take a break from it all

We spend so much time striving after the hustle, keeping as busy as possible, focusing all our energy and time on work or activities, or filling up our schedules with as much as possible. We do this to compete with the idea we all have of perfection, to compete with each other, or to be seen as successful in the eyes of others.

But perfection is not real. It’s a made-up construct that we can never achieve. And we should never measure our success against the accomplishments of other people. Take a step back from it all and just be. Dare to sit and read a book for hours just because you can. Plan a lazy Saturday afternoon where you and your family stay inside all day and just do your own thing. Then come together for dinner later and spend the evening watching movies or playing board games.

Hang out with your friends or family you haven’t seen in a while. Doing the things you love, even for just a few hours or so, can help you celebrate your mental health.

4. Reach out to someone for support

Sometimes, you need to admit you need help. Celebrating May’s Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to take a positive leap toward stronger mental health. Reach out to me soon to learn about anxiety treatment or depression therapy.