The world would be a better place if we all had…therapy! I can personally attest to the benefits of counseling and I recently completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (to be conferred in September). Speaking of, May is Mental Health Awareness Month so let’s talk about it!
What is Mental Health?
Seems like a simple, binary question. As in, if you don’t have a psychiatric illness then you’re good right? Nope. The absence of a mental health diagnosis does not necessarily mean you are mentally well. Ever moved? Been fired? Lost a loved one? Become a parent? Divorced? Married? Been arrested/incarcerated? Got injured or ill? Retired? Such events are THE most stressful in life and you probably felt quite overwhelmed. Congratulations! You are human.
Definition
“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.”
Small Things = Big Impact
We all have room for growth. Did you drink more than 2 liters of water today? Do you have a clear purpose in life? An emergency fund? Are you active in your community? When did you last do something creative? Or move your body for 30 minutes? Are you connected to a higher power? To nature? To other people? Research indicates all of the above support mental health.
How can I improve my mental health?
I’m glad you asked. Short answer: Subscribe to my blog! There are 9 pillars of wellness, described below, that are critical to supporting mental well-being and overall health. My blog focuses on a different domain each month and encourages self-reflection and action.
| Domain/Pillar | |
| Physical | Body – caring for the body to facilitate short- and long-term health |
| Social | Relationships – developing and maintaining healthy connections with self, intimate partners, friends, family, and community |
| Financial | Money – making informed decisions to manage resources, invest, and plan for short- and long-term emergencies, needs, and goals |
| Spiritual | Meaning – passion or purpose in life, with or without God or organized religion; living by one’s values or beliefs |
| Emotional | Feelings – identifying and understanding emotions to express them constructively |
| Intellectual/Cognitive | Learning – growing intellectually, developing new skills, staying curious about the world and how your gifts can benefit others |
| Environmental | Mother Nature – awareness of how natural, constructed, and social environments affect wellbeing; commitment to planet health |
| Vocational | Rewarding Work – engaging in a profession requiring your talents, skills, or gifts in ways that are enriching and satisfying |
| Legal | Protection – legal agreements or measures to safeguard personal and/or professional assets and proprietary information or products |
Bottom line: These pillars can benefit everyone. Subscribe to learn more!
Hot Take: A therapist or pill cannot hydrate or give purpose to your life.
Thank you for reading. To apply this Science-Backed Sunday Snippet, reflect on the three S’s below:
See: Which domain(s) were already familiar to you? Why?
Suppose: Which pillar(s) piqued your interest? How so?
Switch: What can you start, stop, or continue doing (in one area) to bolster mental health?