Mindful Moments: Honoring Mental Wellness Month

January 1, 2024 | by sau1admin

For many, January is a month of new beginnings. People may make New Year's resolutions to focus on bettering themselves during the coming year. A lot of times, this means focusing on their body image and how they look.

But, what if we took this time to focus on our mind? That is exactly why Mental Wellness Awareness Month is celebrated in January.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) tells us that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience some form of mental illness in their lives each year. During a time when we are making New Year's resolutions maybe we should commit this year to making a resolution to make our mind better. How our mind feels is just as important as how our body feels. During, and after, the holidays, many people experience times of sadness, especially during the winter months, for different reasons. This is not uncommon and you are not alone! That is why, in 1949, January was chosen to be Mental Wellness Month, so that people could focus on their mental wellness while also making other New Year's resolutions and changes

There are several ways to focus on your mental wellness, not only in January, but throughout the year.These could be:

• Spending time with friends/family
• Yoga/exercise
• Reading/writing
• Meditation
• Spending time doing a hobby
• Talking to a friend
• Seeking help from a mental health professional

No matter how you choose to take care of yourself, it is important that you do so. Don't feel bad or weak if you choose to seek professional help for your mental health. Everyone goes through tough times and everyone needs help at some point. Asking for help is a strength not a weakness.

If you or someone you know is going through a tough time, SAU1 would like to offer help. Please visit our tough times website page for a list of mental wellness resources. We also offer virtual or in person options for people with disabilities to talk about tough times. Please check out our events calendar for a list of events we are offering this month! And remember, you are not alone! We can tackle mental wellness together!