Caring for Your Mental Health (2024)

Overview

Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is more than the absence of a mental illness—it’s essential to your overall health and quality of life. Self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness.

How can I take care of my mental health?

Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. This can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.

Here are some self-care tips:

  • Get regular exercise.Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
  • Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated.A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Pay attention to your intake of caffeine and alcohol and how they affect your mood and well-being—for some, decreasing caffeine and alcohol consumption can be helpful.
  • Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
  • Try a relaxing activity.Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy, such as listening to music, reading, spending time in nature, and engaging in low-stress hobbies.
  • Set goals and priorities.Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to appreciate what you have accomplished at the end of the day.
  • Practice gratitude.Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down or replay them in your mind.
  • Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
  • Stay connected.Reach out to friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.

Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you.

Learn more abouthealthy practices for your mind and body.

When should I seek professional help?

Seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more, such as:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
  • Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning because of mood
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Loss of interest in things you usually find enjoyable
  • Inability to complete usual tasks and activities
  • Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness

How can I find help?

If you have concerns about your mental health, talk to a primary care provider. They can refer you to a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker, who can help you figure out the next steps. Findtips for talking with a health care provider about your mental health.

You can learn more about getting help on the NIMH website. You can also learn about finding support and locating mental health services in your area on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. This service is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In life-threatening situations, call911.

Suicide is preventable—learn about warning signs of suicide and action steps for helping someone in emotional distress.

Featured videos

GREAT: Helpful Practices to Manage Stress and Anxiety:Learn about helpful practices to manage stress and anxiety. GREAT was developed by Dr. Krystal Lewis, a licensed clinical psychologist at NIMH.

Getting to Know Your Brain: Dealing with Stress:Test your knowledge about stress and the brain. Also learn how to create and use a “stress catcher” to practice strategies to deal with stress.

Guided Visualization: Dealing with Stress:Learn how the brain handles stress and practice a guided visualization activity.

Mental Health Minute: Stress and Anxiety in Adolescents: Got 60 seconds? Take a mental health minute to learn about stress and anxiety in adolescents.

Featured fact sheets

More

Learn more

Last Reviewed:February 2024

Caring for Your Mental Health (2024)

FAQs

Caring for Your Mental Health? ›

What is mental health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

What is mental health best answer? ›

What is mental health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

What to say to someone with mental health issues? ›

You could say something like 'its okay to feel like that' or, 'what you're going through sounds really tough'. Sometimes when you are struggling with your mental health, it can feel very lonely. By letting them know how they feel is valid, you are letting them know that they are not alone.

How do you tell someone you care about their mental health? ›

Starting a conversation with someone about their mental health
  1. Practice active listening.
  2. Don't compare.
  3. Ask what you can do.
  4. Keep your word.
  5. Don't judge.
  6. Offer to join them.
  7. Know when more serious help is needed.

How can you improve your mental wellbeing? ›

Moving our bodies – with sport, gardening, dancing, cycling, walking the dog, cleaning or going to the gym, for example – are great ways to improve our mental and physical health. Exercise releases “feel good” hormones that reduce feelings of stress and anger. It also helps us feel better about our bodies.

What are 5 ways to improve mental health? ›

Tips for improving your mental wellbeing
  • Try to relax and reduce stress.
  • Find ways to learn and be creative.
  • Spend time in nature.
  • Connect with others.
  • Look after your physical health.
  • Try to improve your sleep.

What are better words for mental health issues? ›

mental illness
  • crack-up.
  • craziness.
  • delusions.
  • depression.
  • derangement.
  • disturbed mind.
  • emotional disorder.
  • emotional instability.

What is the hardest mental illness to live with? ›

One of the Most Painful Mental Illnesses: Living with BPD Pain. Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.

What are positive words for mental health? ›

The top 10 positive & impactful synonyms for “mental health” are emotional well-being, psychological health, mind wellness, mental resilience, inner harmony, cognitive well-being, emotional fitness, psychological wellness, mindfulness, and emotional equilibrium.

How do you say mental health issues in a nice way? ›

Rather than describe the person as being a disease ('Rhys is schizophrenic' or 'Margot is a depressive'), describe the person as experiencing/having mental illness (e.g. 'Margot has depression') just as you would someone with any other form of illness/injury (e.g. 'Doug has cancer').

How do you take care of someone's mental health? ›

For example, you might:
  1. provide emotional support.
  2. help them to manage day-to-day tasks.
  3. support them in challenging times.
  4. advocate for them (see our pages about advocacy)
  5. encourage and support them to seek help.
  6. make phone calls for them.
  7. encourage them to feel confident in making decisions.

What is the most common mental health problem? ›

The most frequently occurring mental health problems are mixed anxiety and depression, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and phobias.

What are the three rules of mental health? ›

These are the "Three Rules" that influence the thinking, choices and behaviors of those who live with mental health issues, substance misuse and addiction. The rules are: "Don't talk," "Don't trust," and Don't feel."

What is a good conclusion for mental health? ›

Conclusion. Mental health is just as important as physical health—yet it's often ignored or misunderstood. Part of the reason for this is because mental illness can be harder to see than physical illness. But just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

What is the definition of good mental health? ›

It means you are in a state of wellbeing where you feel good and function well in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, good mental health is when you can: cope with the normal stresses of life. learn and work productively. use your talents and abilities.

What is mental health best described as being? ›

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

How do I explain my mental health? ›

Focus on how you feel, rather than what diagnosis you might meet. Try to explain how you've been feeling over the past few months or weeks, and anything that has changed. Use words and descriptions that feel natural to you – you don't have to say specific things to get help.

What is the best way to explain mental illness? ›

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.

How do you define good mental health? ›

Good mental health is when you feel you can manage day to day stresses, work productively, use your abilities and contribute to society. Good mental health is a key part of feeling happy with life, being connected to other people and having a sense of meaning.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 5703

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.