The month of May has been observed as the Mental Health Awareness Month in the USA since 1949.
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that affect the brain and often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder. The good news is that recovery is possible.
- Take a Walk Outside - go for a mid-day walk at lunch
- Watch a favorite TV show - The Magicians
- Read a Book or a Magazine
- Play a Game on your Phone
- Browse Social Media
- Just Cheer Up
- Indulge in a Sweet Treat
- Bake or Cook
- Take a Nap
- Listen to Music
- Take a Drive
- Tend to Your Garden
- Run a quick Errand
- Take yoga or stretching class
- Try breathing exercises and mediation
NAMI Montgomery County PA works to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through support, education, advocacy and awareness.