1. Set Healthy Limits: What you have done for yourself today? Have you been putting off going for a walk or run, going to bed early, or calling your friend because you're too busy with other things? Make a list of things to do today and make sure what you WANT to do is on the list next to what you NEED to do. You can't pour from an empty cup, so re-charge with what makes you feel good!

2. Get Your Feelings Out: Whether you prefer to talk, write, make art, sing, or dance, find a healthy outlet to express your feelings. Bottling them up can only prolong mental health distress and can even lead to physical health problems. 

3. Challenge the Negative Voices in Your Head: If you find that you have been participating in a lot of negative self-talk, start by acknowledging that you are doing this, then say 5 positive things about yourself. Challenge those negative thoughts and rationalize if those are really true. (Probably not!) Find evidence to support the positive things about yourself and write them down. Post them somewhere you can read them to keep those negative voices at bay and remind you to focus on the positive.

4. Give Yourself Credit for the Little Stuff: It takes courage to try something new or do something that was uncomfortable. For example, if you don't like asking questions in class, but took a chance and asked anyway, congratulate yourself! You took a risk and should be proud of yourself! If you helped someone new find their way around the building, pat yourself on the back for being brave and helping someone in need, even though you didn't know them.

5. Help Others: We feel good when we know that we have made a difference in the lives of others. Join a cause or help a friend, talk to a stranger and make someone smile. We feel good when we can help others and this, in turn, spreads kindness and others are more likely to pay it forward too!

BONUS: Reach out to your friendly neighborhood school psychologist at our emails, above! We are available to all students who want to talk and be heard. 

1. Fundraise for causes related to mental health. Although there are many worth organizations like this, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (SFSP) holds an "Out of the Darkness" walk each fall in Allentown. You can raise money, form a team, or just walk to help raise awareness and support programming to prevent suicide and support loved ones impacted by suicide. 

2. Shop for a good cause Via is a local organization supporting independent living skills for children and adults with disabilities like autism, Down Syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. One fun way to support their mission is by shopping at their thrift store, which provides employment opportunities to folks with disabilities and whose profits support their other work. It is just a long-but-not-too-long drive out Emaus Ave to their shop in Fountain Hill. While you're in Bethlehem, get coffee at The Lodge. People coping with mental illness and addiction can struggle to find employers that are accommodating of their differences. The Lodge provides affordable housing and work opportunities to individuals overcoming mental illness and addiction, providing a sense of stability while these folks get on their feet.

3. Participate in a Mental Health First Aid training. Mental Health First Aid provides training in how to notice and respond to mental health concerns at school. 

4. Get Involved in a club at EHS that supports mental health. Many clubs at EHS create opportunities to advocate for mental health as a cause, such as No Place for Hate and Activism Clubs. Other clubs at EHS focus on populations that are more likely to be negatively impacted by mental illness, such as Habitat for Humanity, PALS, and GSA.

5. Be a supportive friend. Go out of your way to explicitly remind your friends you care, and that you are there to listen if they ever needed. Having supportive friends can serve as an important protective factor for concerns related to mental health!