Counseling Corner: Willowbrook Guidance Department shares tips to promote mental health

As an American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) school, Willowbrook's Guidance Department follows the developmental counseling model, and counselors continuously work with students to ensure they develop skills for a lifetime of wellness.

May is Mental Health Month, and this year’s theme is “#4Mind4Body.” The goal is to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone. This year’s theme looks to explore the topics of animal companionship, spirituality, humor, work-life balance and recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness. With the end of the school year approaching, the Guidance Department shares tips from Mental Health America to help students maintain overall wellness, so they can perform their best and support the #4Mind4Body goal. For more information about Mental Health Month, go to http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may.

Mental Health America promotes a healthy lifestyle to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and obesity. They have shared the following strategies and suggestions:

• Finding a reason to laugh, walking with a friend, meditating and playing with a pet can go a long way in making you physically and mentally healthy.
• Finding a balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life and physical health and mental health can help you on the path toward focusing both #4Mind4Body.
• Living a healthy lifestyle might not be easy, but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes.
• Humor, spiritually, recreation, animal companionship and work-life balance are important for everyone, but can be of special importance to people also living with chronic illnesses and those who care for them.
• The company of animals – whether as pets or service animals – can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to recover from illnesses. A pet can be a source of comfort and can help us live healthier lives.
• Sometimes life is far from funny, but finding humor in a situation can lift moods with laughter and help people to better deal with and overcome difficult experiences.

There are many steps you can take to care for your mental health, and Mental Health America has a vast number of resources such as information on the many areas of mental health, mental health screenings and locating local resources. We also encourage you to reach out to the Student Services Department for assistance and resources.

Source: Mental Health America, http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net