May is Mental Health Awareness Month, however these tips are valuable year-round as prioritizing mental health is crucial for everyone, all the time. These tips are broad suggestions of ways to maintain and improve one’s mental health.
Learn Relaxation Techniques: mobile applications and online sites assist with meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation exercises which can help to reduce stress and anxiety
Practice Self-Care: addressing small self-care items daily contributes to overall well-being by building routine and healthy habits
Caregiving for a friend or family member who has a disability involves empathy, understanding, and practicality. These are some ways in providing meaningful support:
Respect Independence: respect autonomy, ask before helping, and allow everyone to make decisions about their own life while offering assistance
Listen Actively: empathize and validate the lived experiences through free expression of feelings, frustrations, and triumphs