So, if you've been checking out the news, you likely know that there is a week out there that is focused on mental health wellness. In the United States, that week is November 9th to 15th, 2014 (the week it falls on varies in other countries). This week focuses on the overall mental health wellness that we all should be taking care of, no matter whether or not we have a mental illness or another issue that may come up. In this article, we're going to talk about why we need a week that is focused on mental health awareness and wellness, and some tips that can help you to seek wholeness in your mental health endeavors. 

Why Do We Have a Week Focused on Mental Health Wellness?

First off, we have this week because we don't always have our mental health in the forefront when we are talking about wellness and the way that we live our lives. The government has determined that it is, indeed, incredibly important for us to take care of our mental health, which is why there is now a week focused on it. We get so involved with work, and life, and other people that we forget to take care of ourselves, so this week helps us to turn our attention back to ourselves in a healthy manner and helps us to learn how to take care of our minds as well as our bodies. 

We live in a world that has become incredibly fast-paced, and so it is hard for us to really get our feet on the ground and take care of our mental health in a positive way. Think about everything that you get done in a day, and then think about what you don't get done. We worry so much about the things that we do and don't get done, that it becomes difficult for us to get our mental health in balance. By taking the time out to focus on our mental health in an effective manner, we have the ability to get into healthy mental health habits that strengthen our minds. 

Lastly, mental health awareness and diagnoses are becoming more common, and therefore it is important for us to make sure that we understand how our mind works and keep it healthy. Mental illness diagnoses are becoming more commonplace, and we need to be able to understand the way that our mind works in order to head some of those disorders "off at the pass." So by focusing on our wellness, we have the ability to determine whether or not our mind is working in the way that it should be. 

Tips for Mental Health Wellness

There are a lot of things that you need to consider in order to make sure that your mind stays as healthy as it can. Here are some tips that can help you stay in top condition, whether it is Mental Health Wellness Week or not. 

Make sure that you are getting the right amount of sleep. This is so important for your mental health that it needs to be brought forward again and again. If you aren't getting the amount of sleep that you need, then you're not going to be healthy in any sense of the word. Your mental health will not be optimal; you won't be able to concentrate as well, you won't be able to think clearly about stressful situations, and you will have a hard time remembering and/or learning information that you need to learn. You will also be grumpy! It's not a pleasant thing if you don't get enough sleep, so make sure to make a point of it. 

Eat a proper diet. The food that we eat actually significantly impacts the way that we feel and our mental health. If you're putting a lot of junk into your body, then you're going to feel pretty cruddy and you won't have the energy that you need to get through the day. By eating the right foods, you're going to be more likely to feel good and get the energy that you need to function. Like with a lack of sleep, you will not feel very happy and your mind will not be working at the levels it should be working at; you will feel worn out and drained. 

Do something to make sure that you don't get super stressed out. Make time in your day or week for recreation. Do you have any recreational activities that you enjoy on a regular basis? Do you have something that you like to do in order to unwind? A lot of people just assume that because they have too much to do, they don't need to schedule time in their life for recreation, and that's not true at all. If you don't take time to relax and destress, your mental health is definitely in danger. So keep yourself healthy and strong by ensuring that you get time to have fun and relax - your mind and your body will thank you for the time you put into it. It doesn't have to take up a lot of time either; you can take half an hour to watch a show that you like, go take a walk, or read a book that you enjoy. Whatever it may be, just make sure that it's for your enjoyment. 

Give back to other people. We live in a society that sometimes gets incredibly selfish, and because of that, we forget to help others out. But did you know that helping other people can actually be great for your mental health? It gives you a feeling of accomplishment, it helps you to feel less stressed or afraid of people who aren't necessarily like you, and it can help you feel fulfilled. Many people feel passionate about others, and because of this, we need to unlock our potential by helping other people out in whatever way we can. Volunteering is perhaps the best way to accomplish this, but there are other ways as well. We're all on this journey together, so we should help each other out in whatever way that we can. Get creative with it too - the only thing that is stopping you is your own creativity. 

Keep up with your relationships in a healthy manner. I cannot emphasize this enough: healthy relationships are absolutely vital to making sure that your mental health is the best that it can be. Make sure that your relationships are intact and that you are able to be with your loved ones. Hang out with your friends and family, let them know that you care about them, and enjoy life together. By doing all of those things, you can be certain that you are going to have a good relationship with your loved ones, you can reduce stress, and you will feel a lot less lonely. Being alone too much can really hurt your mental health, so if you aren't careful, you can end up making things worse. So make time for those that you love and see how much of a difference it will make in your life. 

If you need help, make sure that you get it. This is incredibly important, no matter what your circumstances in life may be at this moment. If you need help in any way, whether it be because of a mental illness or another health concern, then you want to make sure that you know where to get help and how to get it. There are so many resources out there for you, and we list a lot of them here on the Theravive site. You don't have to walk through your mental health journey alone - by starting on the road to recovery right now, you can start to see a major difference in your life and figure out a lot of things you may not have considered before. So use our site to find the help that you need in order to thrive, instead of just sitting around and trying to survive on your own. It will make a huge difference in your life.  

There are a lot of things that you can do in order to make sure that you have the best mental health that you can. During Mental Health Wellness week, be sure that you take care of yourself better than you may have before. By doing so, you will be doing your whole self a big favor, and you will feel a lot better and more able to move forward with life in a healthy way. 

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Beuermann-King,, B. (2014, May). Celebrating Canadian Mental Health Week. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://worksmartlivesmart.com/mental-health-week-tips/

Canadian Mental Health Association of Richmond, BC. (n.d.). Strategies for Good Mental Health Wellness. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://mhww.org/strategies.html

Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester. (n.d.). Mental Wellness Tips to maintain a healthy mind and body. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://www.mhcgm.org/uploads/pdfs/mental-wellness-tips.pdf

Perry Wellness Center. (n.d.). Ten Tips for Better Mental Health. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://www.perrywellnesscenter.com/news/peer-post-archives/146-ten-tips-for-better-mental-health

Shaffer, J. (2013, November 13). Mental Health Wellness Week: What You Need to Know. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from https://royalvelvetnow.com/blog/mental-health/mental-health-wellness-week-what-you-need-know/