{"id":5151,"date":"2018-05-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=5151"},"modified":"2023-06-29T21:24:40","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T21:24:40","slug":"self-care-101-for-mental-health-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/self-care-101-for-mental-health-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-care 101 for Mental Health Month","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

By Angela Nugent<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mental illnesses \u2014 including depression and anxiety \u2014 are among the most common health conditions in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 50 percent of our population will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.<\/p>\n

Although many people are familiar with physical ways to take care of their health, mental health or emotional health \u2014 while equally important \u2014 is sometimes ignored.<\/p>\n

The World Health Organization defines mental health as \u201ca state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and can make contributions to his or her community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making our mental health a priority can boost our ability to be resilient and elevate our overall well-being. In short, our emotional state matters.<\/p>\n

The mind-body connection<\/h3>\n

The mind and body work together for overall wellness. For example, prolonged stress can increase cortisol in the brain, which weakens the immune system and increases the risk of getting sick. Compromised mental health can also contribute to more serious health issues such as heart disease, obesity, stroke, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Likewise, physical health conditions can sometimes increase the risk of mental illness.<\/p>\n

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If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, we can help.<\/p>\n

Learn more about our programs<\/a> and how to reach us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Raise your mental health awareness<\/h3>\n

Caring for mental health begins with personal awareness. Many factors can impact mental health. One of the most common of these factors is stress. While stress is part of life and can help with productivity and accomplishment, prolonged exposure to stress can lead to increased symptoms and lack of self-care.<\/p>\n

The following symptoms are commonly linked to prolonged or elevated stress:<\/p>\n