May marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month.

It is important to consider steps that can be implemented to help destigmatize mental health. Make sure to check in with loved ones and see how they are doing. Checking in helps people know that there is someone that cares about them. If they do choose to open up and express that they are experiencing mental health issues, let them know that there are resources that can help them. NDB’s guidance counselors are a great example of a resource for anyone who needs help.

“I love the counselors,” said NDB Junior, Kate O’Connor. “They are always there to help me with anything I need, big or small.”

Sometimes people do not know how to help because they do not understand the realities and facts behind mental health problems. One of the main goals of Mental Health Awareness month is to encourage people to simply be mindful of their own mental health.

Doing research about how people of different ages experience mental health issues is a great first step towards being able to help those around you. Take the time to listen and learn about what some of your friends might be going through. The first step in helping to support those who are suffering is taking time to listen to them.

Social media is a great way to spread awareness about Mental Health Month. Posting different mental health resources can be very helpful to a lot of people who might not have had the motivation to look for the information themselves.

There are many social media accounts dedicated to spreading awareness about mental health and giving out ways to help. Utilizing tools like this can be beneficial in many ways. They can be used to help people who might not know how to seek it otherwise.

Encourage kind words. Make sure people know that their words matter and never be afraid to call someone out if they say something insensitive about mental health. Always be kind to others and think about what you are saying. People do not realize the impact that their words might have on other people. Be conscious of the thing you say and how other people might take that. So, make sure to always spread kindness and be nice to others.

Practice self care. Remind people to take care of themselves and stay in tune with their bodies. Everyone can get overwhelmed and it is important to remember to take a break and take time to decompress.

“School is very overwhelming and breaks sometimes don’t seem like breaks,” junior Charlotte Stogner explained. “I need to remember to always take time for myself and make sure I don’t get too stressed out.”

Mental health is a very serious issue and it’s important that everyone recognizes it as such. Taking steps like this will help spread awareness to mental health and help normalize it.