May is Mental Health Month

When you or someone you love is dealing with a mental health concern, sometimes it’s a lot to handle. It’s important to remember that mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. 

May is Mental Health Month which was started 70 years ago by the national organization, Mental Health America (MHA).  Red Bud Regional Hospital’s Senior Solutions program is joining this year’s national campaign to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone. 

A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It can also help people recover from these conditions. For those dealing with a chronic health condition and the people who care for them, it can be especially important to focus on mental health. That is why in 2019 we are expanding upon last year’s theme of 4Mind4Body and taking it to the next level, as we explore the topics of animal companionship, humor, work-life balance, and recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness. 

“It is important to really look at your overall health, both physically and mentally, to achieve wellness,” said Lee Schmidt Program Director of Senior Solutions. “Finding a reason to laugh, going for a walk with a friend, meditating, playing with a pet, or working from home once a week can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy – it’s all about finding the right balance to benefit both the mind and body.” 

MHA has developed a series of fact sheets (available at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may) to help people understand how their lifestyle affects their health. 

“We know that living a healthy lifestyle is not always easy, but it can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes,” concluded Schmidt. “Finding the balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life, physical health and mental health, can help you on the path towards focusing both 4Mind4Body.” 

Red Bud Regional Hospital’s Senior Solutions program is an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults suffering from symptoms of anxiety and depression often related to aging.

For more information, call the Red Bud Regional Hospital’s Senior Solutions program at 618-282-5950.

For more information on May is Mental Health Month, visit MHA’s website at www.MentalHealthAmerica.net/May.