Our busy lives often push the topic of mental health into the shadows. As weeks fly by, we may pass off a loved one’s ‘downer’ as nothing serious, or feel too busy to deal with personal issues. Think of mental health issues as little trolls spreading fake news. They must be dealt with. One thing is certain – if you ignore them, they will grow faster than Jack’s beanstalk.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. It is the perfect opportunity to start that difficult conversation and open the window for change. By being a little kinder to ourselves and others, we can take steps towards a positive, tolerant, and more understanding future. Here are some steps we can all take. If we all try to help where we can, the world will shine a little brighter.
1. Smile
A smile has magical powers. It can change someone’s day, uplift a person’s mood, and lets others know they are not alone. Some people are isolated. The only interaction may be at the checkout or while walking their dog. A simple smile can bring that vital connection; it can replace a feeling of despair with one of hope. Let’s all smile a bit more.
2.Talk
Never let mental health gremlins get the better of you. The first step to beating them is to talk. Whether it’s a mental health professional, friend, or loved one – if you are struggling, you need to speak up. You will feel so much lighter just by discussing your problem. By shining a light on the issue, you can begin the recovery process and reclaim your life.
3. Mental Health Needs Kindness
Today’s demanding lifestyle blinds us to other people’s problems. If we endeavour to be more thoughtful, we may notice when a person needs help. Whether it is offering an elderly person your place in a queue, or asking a colleague if they are okay, it will help. These little tokens of kindness are priceless.
4. Don’t Feed Negativity
Should you see something nasty or negative on social media, don’t feed it. Boredom can trigger the worst in people. Don’t let it. You can choose not to share or spread meanness. Be a better person.
5.Don’t Judge, Learn Instead
We are amid a mental health crisis. There is much we don’t know. If someone is suffering, they may act strangely or cause you to feel uneasy. One thing is certain – the individual you are judging is probably feeling far worse about the situation than you. Lack of awareness and quick judgments can lead to online hate crimes, verbal, and even physical abuse. A sad situation that could easily be avoided with the aid of a little understanding and awareness. Instead of making accusations that are likely to be both intensely damaging and wrong, take some time to learn about mental illnesses. This will help you feel more comfortable and hopefully prevent an unnecessary attack on an already vulnerable individual.
For more reading inspo, “Boost Your Mental Health With These Amazing Well-Being Ideas.”
