May is Mental Health Month - Look Around, Look Within

 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This effort, which was begun by Mental Health America (MHA) in 1949, encourages us to Look Around, Look Within to focus on how the world around us affects our sense of well-being. 

InnerAct Alliance is proud to celebrate Mental Health Month to help raise awareness of individual and community mental health, reduce stigma, share resources, and suggest proactive steps to support well-being. We know the odds are higher for those with a mental illness to turn to drugs or alcohol as a means to cope.

Mental Health is an incredibly important part of overall health and well-being. The world around us can be both positive and negative – creating joy and sadness, hope and anxiety. Our overall health is significantly impacted by our natural and built environment: the places we live, work, play, and congregate, as well as economic stability and social connections, all have a powerful influence on our well-being.

While we often consider these environmental factors to be “social determinants of health” (SDOH) that relate more to physical health, it makes sense to consider the effects of our environment on our mental health as well. The more these factors work in our favor, the more likely we are to experience better well-being. Conversely, when it seems like the world is working against us, mental health can suffer.

We can all benefit from more stable environments, building strong communities, and available access to needed services. 

Here are some proactive steps suggested by Mental Health America to help change our spaces and protect our well-being. 

• Work toward securing safe & stable housing: This can be challenging due to finances, age, and other reasons, but you can reach out to state/local agencies about secure housing, remove safety hazards in the home, or find another space (perhaps a community center or friend’s home) where you can get the comfort you are missing at home.

• Focus on your home: Consider keeping your space tidy, sleep-friendly, and well-ventilated. Surround yourself with items that help you to feel calm and positive.

• Create bonds with your neighborhood and community: Get to know the people living around you. Join or start a neighbors-helping-neighbors group, and support local businesses to challenge gentrification.

• Connect with nature: Go for a hike, sit in a city park, bring a plant inside, or keep the shades open to absorb natural light.

Help is just a call or click away:  If you are taking steps to improve your surroundings but are still struggling with issues such as depression or anxiety, it’s more common than you may think. The good news is that it is treatable. Free private screenings are available  on the MHA website at https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/ to help figure out what is going on and determine the next important steps to seek help. More great resources for support services and treatment can be found on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website https://namiorg/home. 

We are in this together! By raising awareness during Mental Health Month, we can influence our society to make mental health a priority. Help is available to talk about life's struggles in a safe place. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 free and confidential support for those in distress, along with prevention and crisis resources.

Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InnerActAlliance and on our online blog https://inneractblogtownhallmeeting.blogspot.com/ to stay up-to-date on mental health awareness, local substance abuse prevention issues, information, and resources.