January is Mental Wellness Month

Happy New Year! I think we can all agree that 2021 was a challenging year for many of us so if you experienced increased stress, anxiety, and mental strain during this previous year, you are not alone. Each year January is recognized as Mental Wellness Month, a perfect time to check in with ourselves and our loved ones to see how we are holding up emotionally and mentally. When we think of New Year's resolutions, there is often an emphasis put on physical wellness such as trying a new diet, exercising more, etc. While those goals are important and taking care of our physical health is critical, our mental wellness is just as important and should be a priority in our lives. In the content below, we will explore what mental wellness is and practical ways to improve our mental wellness throughout the year. What Is Mental Wellness? Like physical health, our mental health is affected by many external and internal factors in our lives. Mental wellness is the ability to cope with life's stressors while maintaining a good quality of life. It's about building up the tools we need to find resilience when life feels difficult. Even if you are diagnosed with a chronic mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, there are ways to help you maintain mental wellness through life's struggles. People associate mental wellness with many different types of activities including meditating, listening to music, talking to a friend, taking a walk in nature, taking a vacation, getting a massage, taking a bubble bath, squeezing a stress ball, or just carving out some time for peace and quiet. When we talk about mental wellness, we are not just focusing on our mental or cognitive functioning, but also our emotions, our social relationships, our spirituality, and our ability to function in daily life. Mental wellness is an internal resource that helps us think, feel, connect, and function; it is an active process that helps us to build resilience, grow, and flourish and encompasses four dimensions: • Mental: How we think; how we process, understand, and use information. • Emotional: How we feel; how we manage and express our emotions. • Social: How we connect; our relationships with others. • Psychological: How we act or function, or how we "put the pieces together;" taking external inputs along with our internal capacity and then making decisions or doing things. Ways to increase mental wellness 1. Practice Mindfulness Practicing mindfulness is about being aware and accepting at the same time. In Western society, we often pride ourselves on staying busy and thinking ahead. Mindfulness challenges us to show up fully in every area of our lives. It is the embodiment of living in the moment. 2. Practice Rest We are complex individuals and our physical health affects our mental health and vice versa. Our bodies need proper rest to function to the best of our ability. Try creating a set bedtime that allows you to rest for at least eight hours at night. Try not to sleep with electronics, like your telephone or laptop, nearby. Sleep can allow our minds to rest and our nervous system to relax, improving our mental state when we awake. Resting can also be done through Huron County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services 3. Practice Gratitude Practicing gratitude doesn't mean that you ignore the challenges you have in your life. Instead, it focuses on the positive people and things we have in our lives. Showing gratitude for the small things can help you feel better about yourself, your situation, and the people around you. For more information on wellness visit www.hcbmhas.org/wellness. If you currently are struggling with mental health or substance use, there is help. Resources for Help • If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. • If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, you can call: Huron County Crisis Hotline: 800-826-1306 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273 TALK (8255) • If you're uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text 4HOPE to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line. For a list of local treatment providers and support services visit: www.hcbmhas.org. Ashley Morrow is Community Engagement and Resource Manager for the Huron County Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services.