World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day 2022
World Mental Health Day is October 10th. This day exists so that we can take the time to acknowledge the massive part mental health plays in our daily life. In such chaotic times, it is deeply important to step back and take time to acknowledge our mental health. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to check in with ourselves and our loved ones, as well as a time for open conversations about mental health to occur. Opening conversations around mental health allows for the destigmatization of mental illness. Less stigma around the topic of mental health means less shame, less discomfort, less fear, and more healing.
This day exists so that we can acknowledge the growing mental health crisis in our world, so that we can examine how social, political, and economic forces impact our mental health, and lastly, so that we can commit to valuing our mental health at the same level as we value our physical health. World Mental Health Day’s purpose is to open conversations, build communities of support, create more accessible and helpful mental health programs and interventions, and commit to raising awareness of mental illness and what can be done to help oneself and others.
How Can World Mental Health Day Help Me?
In a time when so much is going on, healing may seem unapproachable. Regardless of your current situation, you CAN heal. Even if your healing lasts 5 minutes in the morning before you go to work or school, that is enough. One of the caveats of this day is recognition and reflection. Acknowledging yours and others struggles, and reflecting on what you can do to help and be helped is key. Sometimes, healing can feel like climbing Mount Everest, especially when we look at others and see that our journey to healing is different than theirs.
Try to focus on the little moments of healing. Allow yourself brief moments of self-care. Maybe you work long hours, travel often, are constantly in school or busy with other commitments.
World Mental Health Day does not exist to make you feel guilt, shame, or sadness for not tending to your mental health in the ways you think you should. Rather, this day exists to make you stop and think, “What am I doing to take care of my mental health? What are others doing and how can I help?” Above all else, this day is a day to be kind to yourself. This kindness can take many different forms, as long as you are regarding yourself with love, compassion, and respect.
How Can World Mental Health Day Help Others?
World Mental Health Day helps others by bringing attention to mental health and mental illness. On this day, we can acknowledge the systems in place that work, and the ones that do not work. We can step back and do the work to improve mental health systems so that mental health treatment is affordable, compassionate, effective, and accessible.
This day recognizes the benefits of engaging with one’s mental health and the importance of doing the work to help yourself. This day also points out the failures of the mental health system and pushes for improvement and reform. This day encourages us to check on our friends and family, to destigmatize mental illness, to reflect on what we can do better to help ourselves and others, and to open our hearts and minds to healing and self-care. This is a day to slow down, check-in, reflect, and if you can, recognize what you can do for others.
What Does Self-Care Even Look Like?
Self-care can be anything! The most important part of self-care is that it brings you peace, joy, and fulfillment. You might be wondering, how can I heal and do self-care? In such a chaotic world, healing looks different for everyone. Your version of healing could be therapy, self-care, setting boundaries, having conversations about your mental health, or talking to others and giving them support. Or, maybe your version of healing is stepping back from the day, from work, from others, from any commitments or priorities and being present with yourself and your needs. There is no right way to heal, and sometimes, we have to work with what we have.
While all of these suggestions are helpful ways to heal, we understand that those methods are not always possible. Below, we have listed practical methods of self-care, as well as resources and hotlines to provide support and assistance to anyone who needs it. Some of these activities take five minutes, and some can take hours. The key is to do what feels right to you. Sometimes,
self-care is simply doing nothing, and that’s okay. Self-care is intimate and personal, so allow yourself to be present with yourself in these moments.
Self-care can look like:
A long walk
Cooking your favorite dish
Being with friends Being with family Spending time with pets
Buying yourself a present Doing art
Listening to music Having a dance party Binging a show or movie Meditation
Getting a breath of fresh air Playing a game
Journaling
Drink a cup of tea or coffee
Read a book
Take a break from social media Sleeping
Stretching
Going for a drive with no destination Taking a trip
Cleaning
Take a bath or shower
Do your hair, makeup, or put on an outfit you love Do yoga
Listen to a podcast or audiobook Do something creative
Get hydrated
Clean out your emails Do some skincare
Sit still
Sit in silence
Take a break from work Do something spontaneous Go to therapy
Take your medications
These are just some examples of things you can do on and after World Mental Health Day to help yourself and others with their mental health. It is important to make time for self-care, and to check-in with yourself. Even if it’s a quick deep breath or sending a text to a loved one, that is enough. Do what you can, and remember above all else, you are worth the time it takes to check-in with yourself.
Resources and Hotlines
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800-273-TALK (8255) or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
For Spanish speakers using the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 888-628-9454
Crisis Text Line (text-only service): Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor, or visit www.crisistextline.org
988 Mental Health Crisis Line: Call or text 988 to connect with a trained Crisis counselor.
U.S. Veterans Crisis Hotline: 800-273-8255, press 1 or text 838255
Teen Hotline: 310-855-4673
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678 Disaster Distress Hotline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Websites
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mental Health America
World Health Organization (WHO)
References
50 self-care ideas for a bad day. Eugene Therapy. (2021, October 12). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://eugenetherapy.com/article/50-self-care-ideas-for-a-bad-day/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). World Mental Health day 2022. World Health Organization.
Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2022
