( ENSPIRE Health & Wellness ) It’s Suicide Awareness Month – Encourage Others to Take Action in Caring for their Mental Health
ENSPIRE Contributor: Julia Postell
Every day, we lose around 130 people to suicide. The impact of suicide extends across all ages, genders, and cultures. Suicide and mental health affect everyone. Whether it is your friend that is struggling, your next-door neighbor, or a passerby on the street. Mental health is a struggle for almost everyone and anyone.
Over 8% of American adults yearly suffer from major depression, affecting 21 million people. September is dedicated to raising awareness about suicide and taking steps to improve our mental health; everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide, and it starts with putting our own mental health first.
Take a moment to consider these simple self-care tips this month to prioritize your mental health:
- Eat according to your body’s needs and listen to your body’s cues. Fueling your body properly is one of the key things you can do for your mental health.
- Take a walk outdoors and enjoy nature. Indulging in some kind of exercise can relieve stress and anxiety.
- Rekindle a relationship with an old friend or relative by picking up the phone. A simple conversation can change your perspective on things in an instant.
- Clean your space and make it a priority. Commit to making your bed every morning and cleaning your space before you go to sleep every night.
- Take time to wake up and write your thoughts down. Writing your feelings down can help you feel more at ease. I recommend the five-minute journal.
- Make water a priority by adding fruits and citrus to your water. Easy recipes like these encourage you to drink more water.
- Join a book club or visit your local bookstore and indulge in a book that interests you.
- Have at least one thing to look forward to every week. Whether it be picking up takeout from your favorite restaurant one night or meeting up with a friend for coffee; having things to look forward to makes a big difference in your life.
- Listen to a podcast: Podcasts render so much comfort and allow you to relax and de-stress after any long day. I recommend Celebrity Memoir Book Club.
- Try out new spots in your area: The local farmers’ market, a nearby hiking trail, and a local coffee shop. Expanding your horizons and visiting new places are so important for your mental health.
CRISIS RESOURCES:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or Text “NAMI” to 741741 or call/text 9-8-8
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