Mind Matters: Elevating Your Mental Health
Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month so naturally our newsletter is going to focus on taking care of your mental health - through fitness & beyond.
“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.”
Mental Health Statistics
Before we dive into how to keep your mind healthy, I want to provide some context on the issue at hand. Many leading public health figures have declared a public health crisis around the status of the nation’s mental health.
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14
(SAMHSA, 2024)
Mental health outcomes also vary by demographic group which highlights the systemic inequities that different groups face when it comes to mental illness and healing. While we all can, and should, fight systemic barriers to mental wellbeing, the reality is that none of us are solving poverty, racism or sexism overnight. Sometimes this can seem daunting, but as someone working at the intersection of systemic health & individual wellbeing, I prefer to see it as motivational. What does that mean? Our systems are not set up for our mental health to thrive but that makes it all the more important for me to take things into my own hands, to regulate my emotions, create my own joy, and find ways to stay healthy.
My goal in sharing all this information is to leave you with 3 key takeaways:
Mental illness is real, serious, and prevalent in the United States & the world. If you suffer from mental illness (or believe you suffer from mental illness), there is NOTHING wrong with you. In fact, based on the above statistics, it is likely that at least several people you know are also dealing with mental health challenges. I’ve been pleased to see some mental illnesses become less stigmatized over time, but I know that stigma and judgement still exist, so I’m here to be your reminder today that anything you may be struggling with is absolutely normal and you deserve the support and treatment you need to heal
Mental wellbeing is a spectrum. Professionals use diagnostic tools to determine levels of support required in individual cases but a diagnosis (or lack thereof) is not binary. You can be a relatively healthy person and still struggle with occasional anxiety, feelings of depression, etc. On the flip side, you can be a highly functional human living with depression. Most, if not all, of us fall somewhere along a spectrum of wellbeing and that can change day-to-day. I say this to remind you that there is no “perfect” state of wellbeing that you should be trying to achieve. It is normal to fluctuate and mental fitness - similar to physical fitness - is a journey for a reason. It is not linear and there’s no defined endpoint.
Mental health is KEY to your overall health. Your mental wellbeing is tied to your risk for disease & illness, your longevity, your ability to develop meaningful connections, your brain health, your heart health, your weight, etc. If you aspire to be fit, live long, have good relationships, or just live a good life, you NEED to prioritize your mental health. On that note, let’s dive into a few ways to start doing that.
Resources For Those Who Struggle With Their Mental Health
The above recommendations are meant to give some general tips on improving how you feel on a day to day basis. As I mentioned earlier, it is okay to not be okay. If you feel you need professional support, here are a few resources you can explore:
National Suicide Hotline: dial 988
National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline: dial 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) Find Support Center: visit https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support
Additional May Tips
Monthly core workout for you to try if you’re in a time crunch or getting acclimated to the gym (exercise demos linked below):
(3-5 rounds, 30 seconds each exercise, 30 seconds rest after each round)
For more workouts & coaching guidance you can always check out my programs!
