Mental Health Awareness Month
Take the Moment
Ames Construction is Powered by People, and we’re “taking the moment” to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month by sharing resources that support people on their journey to mental wellness.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with its “Take the Moment” campaign.
Take a moment this month to discover NAMI tools to help foster conversations, cultivate empathy, and support people and families.
Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions.
Where to Start
While society is getting more comfortable discussing mental health, it can still be hard to know “Where to Start” when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Knowing how to turn to friends, family, and coworkers when you are struggling can help improve your mental well-being.
Mental Health America’s “Where to Start” campaign during Mental Health Awareness Month includes a free toolkit with practical resources. Find information about how the changing world impacts mental health, how to build coping skills, and where to start when you need help.
Life can be challenging, but every day shouldn’t feel hard or out of your control. One free, private, and easy way to determine if you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a mental health test at Mental Health America - Screening Tool.
Ames Construction is Powered by People, and we’re building a culture of well-being. We hope that all of our people and their families know “Where to Start” when they need help or when they are helping to support others.
Understand
We all know that our mental health can be affected by stresses in relationships and the pressure to perform at work or school. But when the world around us causes mental health problems, it can be less obvious. Whether you realize it or not, any or all of these may affect your mental health:
- Current events
- Social drivers (the conditions we are born into, grow in, and live in)
- Loneliness
- Technology
To understand how the world affects our mental health, it’s important to learn which factors are at play. These range from things we CAN change (screen time, relationships) to things we CAN’T change (access to resources, current events).
Here are 5 things you can do for your mental health this week:
- Make a list of 5 things you’re grateful for today.
- Practice positive affirmations.
- Start a conversation about mental health.
- Stay hydrated.
- Take a break from screens.
What can you do when it feels like the world is weighing on you? For starters, you can find a support system, set boundaries with technology, get involved in advocacy, and learn healthy coping skills. Find more tools to get you started: Mental Health America - May Resources.
Resources
May is drawing to a close, but prioritizing mental health is a year-round effort. Don't underestimate the power of your close support system, but also remember that help exists beyond familiar faces.
Empower yourself and those around you by becoming familiar with local and national mental health resources. This knowledge could be the key to unlocking a brighter future for yourself, your family, and even your coworkers.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free, confidential support to people in distress. You don’t need to be in a crisis to reach out. Call 988 to be connected with a counselor.
Texting the 988 Lifeline: When you text 988, you will complete a short survey to let the crisis counselor know a little about your situation. You will be connected with a trained crisis counselor in a crisis center who will answer the text, provide support, and share resources if needed.
NAMI Helpline: This is a free, nationwide, peer support service that provides information, resource referrals, and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers, and the public. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), weekdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, or text “Helpline” to 62640 to chat.
Ames Construction is Powered by People, and we hope that everyone takes the time to explore mental health awareness resources—it’s the first step on the path to lasting well-being.
