May is Mental Health Month, and the National Mental Health Association wants to make it a life-changing month. Did you know chronic stress makes people more vulnerable to a host of physical illnesses? Or that depression commonly occurs in people who have heart disease? That depression is not necessarily a part of aging?
Numerous studies have shown a close relationship exists between mental health and physical health. In fact, in 2003, the President’s New Freedom Commission declared, “mental health is key to overall physical health,” making May a great time to educate yourself about mental health awareness tips and information.
With the ever-growing pressures of our fast-paced lives, lengthy commutes, and the daily stressors of balancing work and family, the National Mental Health Association has developed some mental health tips to help all Americans manage the day-to-day demands of our lives:
• Depression Checklist: Know the Signs
www.nmha.org/may/signs_depresssion_checklist.pdf
• Mind Your Stress: Tips for Managing Stress on the Job
www.nmha.org/may/mind_stress_on_job.pdf
• Workplace Activity Ideas
www.nmha.org/may/activity_ideas.pdf
• Intervention Strategies for Employers: What to Do When You Think an Employee May Need Mental Health Help
www.nmha.org/may/EmployeeMH.pdf
• Finding Your Balance: At Work and Home
www.nmha.org/may/Drop-in.pdf
• Mind Your Health: Supporting Family and Friends Who Have a Mental Illness
www.nmha.org/may/SupportingF&F.pdf
• Returning to Work: Tips for Guard Members and Reservists
www.nmha.org/may/OpHealthyReu.pdf
• Hope to Cope: Taking Care of an Aging Parent
www.nmha.org/may/AgingParent.pdf
• 10 Tips to Improve Mental Health in Older Adults
www.nmha.org/may/OlderAdults_factsheet.pdf
• 10 Tips for Improving Family Mental Health
www.nmha.org/may/Family_factsheet.pdf
• Childhood Depression: Tips for Parents
www.nmha.org/may/Parents_factsheet.pdf
• Helping Children Grow Up Health: Tips for Working Parents
www.nmha.org/may/helping_children_grow_healthy.pdf
• Coping with Divorce or Separation: Tips for Parents
www.nmha.org/may/activity_ideas.pdf
TPW