*Collaborative post.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and it runs from Monday 9 May to Sunday 15 May 2022. Mental Health Foundation has declared the theme of the week to be exploring the effects of loneliness on our mental health, and the steps that can be taken to reduce the mentally draining effects of loneliness in our communities. Loneliness has always been a big issue for many people, especially in the western world. Many people can easily go for weeks without seeing anyone, and with the current health crisis, those weeks could go on for even longer. Loneliness is another silent pandemic going on, and a lot more needs to be done to combat the devastating effects of loneliness on mental health.

Say NO to Mental Health Stigma

As a society, we are now more open to therapy, and more and more people now openly talk about their mental health issues both online and offline. This is a massive step in the right direction; the more people talk about their mental health issues, the less the stigma. Having said that, a lot more needs to be done to raise more awareness on mental health issues. It is still an uncomfortable subject for many and that should not be the case. There’s a lot going on in our world today and we need to understand that the human mind is so strong yet so fragile. Taking care of our mental health should be at the top of every list.

However, the reality is many people still suffer in silence because of the stigma associated with mental health distress, and many are still hesitant to seek help. Finding the right online therapist covered by your insurance is not an easy feat, and because it’s not, many never get around to doing it. This leads to more mental health decline, and it just goes on and on. This is why companies like Headway are doing an amazing job helping people find therapists covered by their insurance because that takes away the added financial burden of paying for your therapy. Headway takes the pressure off the search and the payment and allows you to focus on finding the right online therapy that accepts insurance and cares for your mental health.

Ways to Care for your Mental Health Today

Here are some coping skills and resources you could check out in between your therapy sessions:

Talk about it

Connecting with others is great for our mental health. If you are struggling in any way, speak to a trusted friend, colleague, or family member.

Stay physically active

You can do this by dancing, exercising, doing chores around the house, going for runs/walks, and pretty much anything that gets you moving. The benefits of staying physically active are great for our overall health.

Have a healthy diet

Diet can affect our physical health as well as our mental health. So ensure you eat well and drink well.

You can read up on more mental health and well-being tips here. The tips are all tried and tested, so there should be a couple you could implement from today.