Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For more than 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.
Week 1: May 1-3
Supporting Older Adults’ Mental Health
This week focuses on supporting the mental health needs of older adults.
As we age, we may experience life changes that impact our mental health.
- Life changes in older adults can impact mental health, but help is always available.
- Mental health conditions in older adults may present differently, such as through changes in interests or energy levels.
- Open conversations about mental health can encourage older adults to seek support.
- Mental health care can enhance quality of life, independence, and social connections.
- Spending time with older adults fosters meaningful connections and well-being.
The National Council on Aging, established in 1950, wrote an article on September 11, 2024 – 7 Ways Older Adults Can Manage Their Mental Health – discussing seven ways to maintain mental health as we age. As we age, we face new challenges – retirement, the loss of loved ones, and physical limitations that can impact us emotionally as well as psychologically. https://www.ncoa/article/7-ways-older-adults-can-manage-their-mental-health/
- Seek treatment if you are having lasting feelings of anxiety or depression. See your health care provider who can connect you with a counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist. Many providers offer telehealth, as well as appointments as in-person appointments.
- Limit your media consumption. Being exposed to constant negative news can lead to an increase in anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. If you notice an increase in these feelings after watching the news, limit your consumption to 10 minutes.
- Engage in healthy activities.
- Get enough sleep – seven to nine hours per night.
- Eliminate tobacco or vaping.
- Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day or eliminate altogether.
- Exercise your body and your mind.
- Take your medications correctly every day. There is assistance available for the cost of medications at NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp.org.
- Stick to regular routines. Structure and predictability is beneficial to our mental health.
- Stay socially connected. This is vital to our mental health. If you have no family or friends nearby, seek out a senior center in your area or religious group to meet like-minded people.
- Try to be positive and relish the simple things in life. Practice gratitude and focus on the positive aspects of your life.
Resources
- National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – call or test 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Disaster Distress Helpline – call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Mental Health America (MHA) – mhanational.org/may
