In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, here are 10 things that the counselors at Abide want you to know about Mental Health!
1. Everyone Has Mental Health
What comes to mind when you think of Mental Health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mental Health is defined as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well. It exists on a spectrum – whether you’re thriving or deeply struggling or somewhere in between, we all have a degree of mental health. Taking care of it should be part of everyone’s routine, just like brushing your teeth or eating well.
2. Mental Health Is Just as Important as Physical Health
Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. Ignoring it can impact every part of our lives — relationships, careers, and even our physical health, oftentimes without us really realizing it.
📘 Resource: MentalHealth.gov – What Is Mental Health?
3. Mental Illness Is Common — and Treatable
One in eight people globally live with a mental health condition. In the United States, this is closer to 1 in 5 adults. While these numbers may seem daunting, with the right treatment — whether therapy, medication, or both — people can recover or manage their condition effectively.
📘 Resource: World Health Organization – Mental Disorders
4. It’s OK to Not Be OK
Struggling with your emotions doesn’t make you weak. On the contrary, feeling your feels makes you fully alive, fully human! Acknowledging your feelings and allowing yourself to feel them is also the important first step toward healing.
📘 Resource: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Warning Signs
5. Therapy Isn’t Just for “Crisis Mode”
You don’t need to be in a crisis to talk to a mental health professional. Therapy helps people at all stages of life gain insight, build coping strategies, and experience transformation. In fact, often the most impactful therapeutic work happens when we are in a state of calm rather than in crisis.
6. Stigma Still Exists — But You Can Help Break It
Open conversations about mental health help normalize it. Share your story, offer support for others, and don’t be afraid to correct misinformation when you hear it.
📘 Resource: Time to Change – Ending Mental Health Discrimination
7. Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Taking time to rest, recharge, and prioritize your well-being isn’t indulgent — it’s necessary. You can’t help others if you’re burned out! Don’t have time for a vacation? Self-care is so much more than that. Taking a moment to get outside, take a hot shower, or prepare a healthy meal can all be a part of daily self-care.
8. What Works for One Person May Not Work for Another
Mental health is personal and psychotherapy is both a science and an art. What helps someone else may not help you, and that’s okay. Be patient and explore different options: meditation, medication, exercise, creative outlets, etc. Additionally, one therapist or therapeutic modality that is a great fit for some people might not be a great fit for you, and vice versa.
9. Your Environment Matters
As you can imagine, stressful work environments, toxic relationships, and unsafe spaces all negatively affect mental health. The hard truth is that sometimes increasing your mental wellbeing means taking stock of what is in your control and changing your surroundings.
📘 Resource: Mind – Mental Health at Work
10. You’re Not Alone
Millions of people experience mental health challenges. Support is out there — and reaching out is a sign of strength, NOT weakness.
📘 Resources:
- Crisis Text Line (US) – Text HOME to 741741
- NAMI Helpline – 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
- Abide Counselors
Final Thoughts
Mental health is an ongoing journey that all of us are on. It’s okay to have good days and bad ones. What matters most is that you’re taking steps — even small ones — toward understanding, managing, and prioritizing your well-being.
If you are noticing that your mental health is struggling and are feeling lost about where to start, a counselor at Abide would love to come alongside you.
👉 If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. — dial 988.
0 Comments