May is Mental Health Awareness Month
It’s natural to experience feelings of stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during challenging times. For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these feelings over a prolonged period of time. There are many ways to help yourself, others, and your community manage stress and minimize its potentially negative impacts on health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we encourage you to make time to explore healthy ways to cope with stress and find ones that work for you with these tips from CDC:
Take news breaks.
It’s good to be informed, but hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting. Take a break from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media.
Consider limiting news to just a couple of times per day and disconnecting from phone, tv, and computer screens for a while.
Take care of your body.
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
Continue with routine preventive measures (such as vaccinations, cancer screenings, etc.) as recommended by your healthcare provider.
Get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.