Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While this may not be as immediately gratifying as World Taco Day (March 31, if you were wondering), the mere existence of a month celebrating mental health speaks volumes to the decreasing societal stigma surrounding mental health and self-care in general and the increasing acknowledgement that the wellness of our internal worlds matter. And this message—of normalizing, validating, and drawing attention to the importance of caring for our own and others’ mental health feels more relevant than ever. There is so much on our communal plates: the grief, restlessness, isolation, burnout, and anxiety of entering year two of life in a global pandemic (not to mention the new anxiety that comes with the prospect of opening back up), all of which gets mixed into preexisting but often exacerbated stressors including racism and systemic inequality, political fractiousness, climate concerns, and the family, relational, and identity challenges that many of us deal with on every day.

That said, in a way, the idea of Mental Health Awareness Month feels almost ironic – so many of us would give anything not to be so viscerally aware of our own mental health—but in other ways it is a salve that reminds us that we are not alone and that we have resources, support, and community to accompany us as we make our way through life. So to that end, here are some resources for acknowledging and celebrating Mental Health Awareness month and for mental health in general:

For when you want to settle in with a good book

The book Maybe you should Talk to Someone: A therapist, HER therapist, and our lives revealed, is a beautiful tale of the human condition, as told through a series of interwoven stories of therapist and author, Lori Gottlieb’s own struggles and experience in therapy and, concurrently, her experience as a therapist for four very different clients. Gottlieb brings us into the sometimes mysterious world of therapy and into her own and her clients’ complicated internal worlds. The book is compulsively readable, funny, deeply touching, and a powerful reminder of the sheer humanness of our fears and vulnerabilities. It leaves readers a very real sense of hope and optimism for the ways in which we can all evolve and grow.  

 Read a Self Space review of the book.

For when you want to chill on the couch…but also be inspired to act

On Thursday May 20, 2021, MTV, in partnership with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Health) will be hosting a Mental Health Day of Action. The mission of the event is, “To help inspire people to talk about their lived experience, destigmatize mental health, and galvanize a movement to drive significant cultural, political and policy changes.” The day will include both TV programming as well as partnerships with brands ranging from NBC, GLAAD, and Ben & Jerry’s (FYI: National Ice Cream day is July 18).

For when you need an easily accessible dose of coping skills

Check out the app Virtual Hope Box. The app, originally designed for people coping with depression but more broadly applicable as well, is meant to help people in moments that feel particularly challenging. The app has four sections: distraction, inspiration, relaxation, and coping skills. Choose the section that appeals to you in the moment or try activities from each to see what feels most helpful. You can also use some of the activities in partnership with your therapist or a friend who can add ideas, activities, and suggestions into your Virtual Hope Box. 

For when you want to really dive in

And of course, there’s always therapy, which is an invaluable tool to help you better understand and access your internal world so that you can ultimately heal, grow, and change. In partnership with a therapist, therapy can provide both the space and the structure for you to be curious about yourself and explore and examine the patterns, themes, and different parts of yourself that may be keeping you from a sense of agency, freedom, and peace.

Find a therapist or read more about what to expect when starting therapy.