Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) is time to increase the awareness of mental illness, spread hope, and share tools to thrive. As we work to raise awareness, we want to empower our community to know that facts about mental illness.

HOUSING STABILITY AND HOME ENVIRONMENT
• Having safe, stable, and healthy home conditions set the foundation for achieving and maintaining good mental health.
• For many people, not having a true “home base” to consistently return to can leave them feeling distressed, disconnected, or isolated. Stable housing allows individuals to develop routines and connections to  their local community, which are
beneficial for mental health.
• Wherever you call “home,” it should give you feelings of comfort, support, and  calmness. If not, there are things you can do
to your space to help you be more productive, reach your goals, and improve your  mental health

During this month we will discuss what mental illness is, how mental illness impacts our communities, spread hope that recovery is possible, and work together to break the stigma around mental health and mental illness.

Get Involved

Household Yard Sign                                      Business supports

Now more than ever we know just how important it is to talk about mental health and promote awareness. Our community’s mental health has been impacted and we know that mental health concerns are rising. Our crisis center has seen an increase in callers who are experiencing crises in need support and our screening data shows that more people are struggling with depressive symptoms, anxiety and suicidal ideation. With 1 in 4 families being affected by a mental health challenge in our community alone, we know that we need to keep the conversation around mental illness and mental wellbeing going.

Please join us this year as we #LookAround and #LookWithin and work to spread awareness about mental health and community resources. As we #LookAround and #LookWithin, our mission of working towards achieving better mental health in the Wabash Valley Region, means employers have resources to share with their number one investment; employees, to keep them healthy and productive; Teachers and other professionals who work with children have opportunities to enhance their mental health knowledge so they can intervene early; and Families who are struggling to find the mental health care they need, have access to free navigation of the mental health care system and emotional supports while they wait for a provider.

If you are passionate about spreading awareness of the benefits of mental health and wellness you are invited to join us on our #LookAround and #LookWithin campaign. Click here to purchase a yard sign to show your support and advocacy for mental health

Get Educated

At Mental Health America - Wabash Valley Region (MHA-WVR) we have several trainings that are open to community members to learn about mental health, mental illness, crisis intervention, and more. We currently offer Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR).

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is a suicide interventional and prevention program that empowers participants to know the warning signs of suicide and teaches them how to effectively intervene in a crisis situation. This is a 90 minute training that involves role plays and community resources. Participants will learn the causes of suicide, how to recognize the signs and symptoms, how to intervene and available community resources. Please click here to signup for our next training.

Worksheets and Helpful Tools

Life can be hard and some days may be more challenging than others. We have several worksheets and helpful tools to help you manage those harder days and reduce your stress.

Worksheets

Being kind to your mind can help improve your mood and make stressful days a little less stressful. Below are five ways to be kind to your mind.

    1. Write a list of all the things you like about yourself. Read through it often or on days that feel hard.
    2. Practice self-care, whatever that looks like to you.
    3. Talk to someone you trust when you need support.
    4. Keep a journal of your successes, accomplishments, and things that make you happy.
    5. When you feel down or have had a hard day, say three things that you like about yourself or that make you smile. Focusing on the positives can help you notice all of the wonderful things in your life.

Reminders

Everyone deals with stressful days, but it does not mean your struggles are any less important. Your mental health matters and we are hear for you. If you feel like you like your mental health is too much for you to handle, our Mental Health Navigators and Peer Specialists are here to help you.

Practicing Self-Care - utilize the Prioritizing Self-Care worksheet to identify what self-care looks like to you and try to incorporate self-care on days that feel more stressful.

Disclaimer
The information and documents included here are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with questions pertaining to your medical condition(s), treatment and care, and any other aspects relating to your health.