May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Dear Union Member,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We all have mental health, it affects how we think, feel, and act every day. However, mental health is often ignored until something is going wrong. The best way to prevent that is to pay attention to your mental health even when you’re feeling ok or even good. We all have days when we feel better than others. And just like with our physical health, we can all do things that make us mentally healthier. 

Our members work in difficult and stressful jobs. Checking in on a member going through a difficult time is one of the best things we can do as a union to help people be successful in their jobs. However, we all face things in life that can throw us off sometimes. Below are some tools and information to help you, a co-worker or someone you love.

One of the key values of our movement is solidarity- we stand with each other during tough times. That includes helping to break down the negative stereotypes around mental illness and get our members they help they need. 

In Solidarity,

Bob Blair                          Paul L. Whiteley Jr.

President                         Secretary Treasurer

Mental Health Matters - We all Have Mental Health

1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition during their lifetime, but everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. Tools 2 Thrive, provides information, tips, and practical tools for situations that we all deal with.

Visit Tools 2 Thrive: https://mhanational.org/tools-2-thrive

You Have to Take Care of Yourself

Your mental health is no different than your physical health and just like you do things to stay physically healthy, brushing your teeth, eating well, going to the doctor, there are things you can do every day or on a regular basis to stay mentally healthy. This can and will look different for everyone.

Here are lots of ideas on how you can take better care of you: https://jedfoundation.org/practice-self-care/

Get Help if You Need It

Sometimes it is hard to know when you need extra help with your mental health. If you don’t know where to start, this infographic can help guide your decision.

Support Someone Else

Check in on your friends and family. Offering support is one of the best things that we can do to get them through difficult times. However, it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, daunting, or just plain awkward. The Roadmap to Friends Supporting Friends gives ideas on what support can look like, how to offer support, and where to begin.

Visit The Roadmap to Friends Supporting Friends: https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/friends-supporting-friends-visible/