Everyone has mental health, even if you don’t have a mental illness, but we aren’t taught about it and our self-care suffers across the board. There’s no way to expect mental health in our society to improve until we can be more comfortable with actually talking about it. And that starts with you.
1. Talk about therapy.
It’s not shameful to put effort into your mental well being. In an ideal world, everyone would be in therapy and talking about it openly. Everyone’s mental health needs taking care of.
2. Don’t judge others for oversharing.
Not everyone needs to know everything about your life, but we should all be sharing at least a little bit. Stop judging those brave enough to try!
3. If you see someone who looks isolated or lonely, reach out to them.
Not everyone always wants someone to talk to, but they might appreciate your offer. You don’t have to ask about all their problems, just make a connection and that person will feel less alone.
4. Talk about self-care strategies.
Chances are you have them, even if you don’t realize it. Just think about things you do for yourself that you enjoy, then tell your friends about it! The exact same things may not work for everyone, but ideas are ideas, and sharing is caring. Plus, it’s fun to have an excuse to just chill out in the middle of the day.
5. Check-in with your friends.
You should never be responsible for anyone else’s mental health or safety, but realizing when someone you know is really struggling or may need help can be life-saving. It also shows people that it’s okay not to be doing great all the time.
