How to Maintain One’s Mental Health

Mental health is a rising topic that many members of our younger generation are talking about. As new topics buzz around the internet, one that always seems to seep its way into media are the challenges surrounding mental health and how to combat it. 

While maintaining steady mental health isn’t easy, it’s perfectly normal not to nor understand how to improve it. Learning about how to take care of yourself is the first step to understanding how much it really matters to you in terms of being happy and healthy. 

Everyone’s mental stability and what they can handle is different, and no one is “wired” the same. However, if one's mental health gets especially bad, seeking help is always the best option. When talking to a professional, it allows you to gain a realistic, outside perspective into what you’re thinking about. 

Seeking professional help from therapists or psychologists can also allow you to consider things that you hadn’t originally, allowing you to work out of unhealthy habits, thoughts or feelings by pushing yourself into new and healthier ways of living. 

Another way that you can keep track of your mental health and learn to heal properly is to start journaling. Journaling is a healthy way to voice your opinions and thoughts without taking it out on yourself or others. This method also creates a space in your mind to be able to write out what you need to say without the pressure of keeping it to yourself or worrying about putting it onto others when you need to vent. 

If you’re not a writer, then maybe it’s art! Expressing emotion through art is a great form of escape and it allows you to put your emotions on canvas or paper and the only person who can interpret its true meaning is you; look at it as another form of sketching your thoughts onto paper. 

While you might be in a dark place that you feel is impossible to escape, there are outlets to help  pull yourself out of it. There are always people here on campus that are willing to help, whether it be a teacher, counselor, or close friend. 

If you or someone you know are struggling with their mental health, please talk to someone immediately; do not sit with feelings that can bring harm to yourself or those you hold close.