We’re mental health awareness monthalmost halfway through Mental Health Awareness Month. How IS your mental health doing? Whether you realize it or not, mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being. When you’re mentally healthy, you are able to enjoy your life and the people in it, feel good about yourself, keep up good relationships, and deal with stress. It’s normal for your mental health to shift over time – we all face difficult situations in our lives. Creating positive habits is a great way to support your mental health when you’re doing well and helps you build skills to use if you do face symptoms of a mental health condition.

In order to ensure our mental health is doing well, Mental Health America encourages us to make quality food choices, exercise, sleep, identify coping skills, stress management, and build a support system. To learn specific ways to address these areas, visit:

https://mhanational.org/fitness-4mind4body-diet-and-nutrition
https://mhanational.org/fitness-4mind4body-gut-brain-connection
https://mhanational.org/fitness-4mind4body-exercise
https://mhanational.org/fitness-4mind4body-sleep
https://mhanational.org/building-your-coping-toolbox
https://mhanational.org/helpful-vs-harmful-ways-manage-emotions
https://mhanational.org/fitness-4mind4body-stress
https://mhanational.org/4mind4body-social-connections-and-recreation

Use Mental Health Awareness Month to reset. It’s not too late. We still have a whole ‘nother half of the month to go. If after trying your hand at resetting you find yourself or someone you know need additional assistance, there is help:

Crisis Text Line - crisistextline.org
Text 741-741 to text with a trained Crisis Counselor for free, anonymous, 24/7 support.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - suicidepreventionlifeline.org
The Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7. Services
are available for:
• English speakers: 1-800-273-8255
• Spanish speakers: 1-888-628-9454
• For deaf & hard of hearing individuals: for TTY users, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255

Warmlines - Warmline.org
Call 1-855-845-7415.Warmlines are staffed by trained peers who have been through their own mental health struggles and know what it’s like to need someone to talk to, 24/7.

Bethsaida Counseling Services is also available to assist by confidentially providing information and referrals to connect you to services, offer consultations, and present trainings and workshops. Reach out to us at (510) 544-8945 or by email at Bethsaida@allen-temple.org.

Information was provided by Sis. Ricka L. White-Soso, MSW, LCSW, BIP, CEAT from material curated by Mental Health America.