Mental Health Awareness Month - May 2025

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Here at Parker, focusing on physical recovery and managing treatments like rehabilitation or dialysis takes immense strength and dedication. As we recognize Mental Health Month this month, we want to highlight something equally vital: your emotional and mental well-being. This is critical because when you take care of your mental health, your physical and emotional health also improves, and you’re more likely to learn and work productively, live better and effectively cope with life stressors.

Did you know?

Mental health issues can affect people of all ages.

• Adults: Approximately 1 in 5 U.S. adults (around 23%, or nearly 60 million people) experience some form of mental illness each year. (Source: NIMH/MHA, using 2022 data)
  
  About 1 in 20 U.S. adults (around 6%, or 15.4 million people) experience a serious mental illness (SMI) each year – one that substantially interferes with major life activities. (Source: NIMH/NAMI, using 2022 data)

• Youth: Approximately 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. (Source: NAMI)

SUPPORTING #MentalHealthMonth

The more we talk about mental health together, the more normalized these conversations become – ultimately empowering people to seek the help they need. Fortunately, more people are now talking about and prioritizing their mental health, just as they would their physical health. People are also embracing self-care to improve overall well-being.  

However, self-care looks different for everyone. Exercise, sleep, and a balanced diet might be the strategy for some, while others might benefit from joining a support group, or seeing a mental health professional. It’s important to try different things to identify what works best for you.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Mind:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Recognizing these emotions is the first step.

2. Talk About It: Share your feelings with trusted family, friends, or support groups. You are not alone.

3. Speak with Your Care Team: Your healthcare providers are here to support you. While we focus on your physical care, we understand the connection to mental well-being. Don't hesitate to mention if you're struggling emotionally.

4. Practice Self-Care: Even small actions help. Engage in hobbies you enjoy (as you are able), practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, or simply take time for quiet rest.

5. Seek Professional Help: If feelings of sadness, anxiety, or stress feel persistent or overwhelming, talking to a mental health professional can make a significant difference.

Here are some small activities that can help to improve overall psychological well-being:

• Get plenty of sleep. Adults should get as close to 8 hours of sleep per night as they can. Although every individual’s body differs, sleep is essential for learning and improving daily productivity.

• Stop to enjoy small aspects of the day. Enjoying the small things may seem cliché, but it is vital to personal contentment. Try taking a walk on your break at work to appreciate the beauty in nature.

• Use a stress ball or some other stress reliever. The way we handle stress directly affects our health. A common method to deal with stress is a stress ball. Just squeeze the frustrations away!

• Perform a random act of kindness. Helping others by volunteering or simply doing one random act of kindness can improve self-esteem. Self-esteem improves mental wellness in a variety of ways, including a self-empowering sense of social connectivity. Volunteerism contributes to lessening loneliness and depression.

• Exercise. Exercise contributes to cardiovascular health. Improved cardiovascular health leads to better emotional stability and reduced anxiety.

• Deep breathing exercises. HealthDirect explains that relaxation involving deep breathing exercises can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. These exercises subsequently allow your body and mind to recharge.

• Yoga. Yoga is a fantastic tool for reducing anxiety and depression. However, some forms of yoga may be too strenuous for some yoga in general offers great mental and physical wellness benefits.

• Pet a dog. Therapy dogs have become a common method for improving the state of your emotions. Dogs provide emotional support by providing companionship to individuals. Simply petting a dog every day can improve one’s mental health.

• Eat breakfast. A lack of nutrition can lead to fogginess in brain function. Psychology Today notes the importance of a daily diet of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. These and other foods have been shown to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other mental disorders.

How to Observe Mental Health Awareness Month:

• Educate Yourself & Challenge Myths: Take time this month to learn the facts about common mental health conditions (like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.). Understanding replaces fear and misinformation. Reputable sources include:
  
  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
  NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)
  Mental Health America (MHA)

• Talk Openly & Listen Without Judgment: Reduce stigma by having honest conversations. If you feel comfortable, share your own experiences. More importantly, create space for others to share by listening actively, empathetically, and without judgment. Avoid minimizing their feelings.

• Use Respectful Language: Words matter. Choose person-first language (e.g., "a person living with schizophrenia" instead of "a schizophrenic"). Avoid using mental health terms casually or as insults (e.g., "crazy," "psycho," "OCD" to describe being tidy).

• Check In on Your Circle: Reach out to friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Ask "How are you really doing?" and be prepared to listen. Social connection is vital for mental well-being.

• Know and Share Resources: Be aware of key resources to share if someone needs help. In NYC, this includes:  

1. NYC Well: Call 1-888-NYC-WELL, text WELL to 65173, or chat online for free, confidential support and referrals.

2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime for immediate crisis support.

3. NAMI-NYC: Offers support groups, classes, and resources (naminyc.org).

4. Community health centers and local clinics.

• Raise awareness across various mediums

Share information and resources on social media. Shine a spotlight on mental health worldwide, you could save a life.

Use #MentalHeathAwareness and #MentalHealthMonth to share on social media.