CARIBOU, Maine — The Aroostook Mental Health Center will mark May as Mental Health Month with an initiative highlighting the importance of physical health on overall mental fitness.
“When you or someone you love is dealing with a mental health concern, sometimes it’s a lot to handle. It’s important to remember that mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable,” said Greg Disy, LCSW and CEO of AMHC.
“So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally,” Disy said. “That is why this year’s theme for May’s Mental Health Month, ‘Fitness #4Mind4Body,’ is a call to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery.”
Mental Health America (MHA) started “May is Mental Health Month” 69 years ago to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone. This May, AMHC will focus on working with clients and its staff to emphasize how a healthy lifestyle may help prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems.
Healthful living can also help people recover from these conditions. Eating healthy foods, managing stress, exercising, and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy.
“It is important to really look at your overall health, both physically and mentally, to achieve wellness,” said Disy. “Getting the appropriate amount of exercise, eating healthy foods that can impact your gut health, getting enough sleep and reducing stress — it’s all about finding the right balance to benefit both the mind and body.”
MHA has developed a series of fact sheets (available at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may) on the importance of exercise, diet and nutrition, gut health, sleep and stress management.
“Also new this year is the #4Mind4Body Challenge, where we call on everyone to join us in completing a small task each day during the month of May — and tell us about it on social media using #4Mind4Body,” Disy said.
“We know that living a healthy lifestyle is not always easy, but it can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes,” he said. “By looking at your overall health every day — both physically and mentally — you can go a long way in ensuring that you focus on your Fitness #4Mind4Body.”
For more information on May is Mental Health Month, visit Mental Health America’s website at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may.
AMHC is a non-profit provider of mental health, substance abuse, brain injury, and social services in Aroostook, Hancock and Washington Counties.
