May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to focus on the importance of mental health and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. The goal is to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage people to seek help when needed.

Self-care is essential for mental health and overall well-being. By raising awareness and acceptance of mental health, we not only empower ourselves, but we also help remove stigma, enforce the message that it is okay to not be okay and encourage people to seek help when they need it.

When you take care of your mental health, your physical and emotional health improves; you become more resilient; and it makes it easier to find ways to manage life stressors in a healthy and positive way.

Focusing on self-care is important because we play a part in each other’s mental wellness. It’s up to each of us to be a lifeline, sharing in a commitment to care for ourselves and those around us. However, you cannot be of help to others if you are not taking good care of your own mental health. Think of it like the safety instructions we receive on an airplane. We are told to put on our own oxygen mask first before we can be of help to others. The same philosophy applies to taking care of our own needs, including mental health needs, before being able to be fully present, and supportive of others, in our lives.

When it comes to mental wellness, small actions can have a big impact. During Mental Health Awareness Month, do something kind for others: hold the door open for someone; give a compliment; pay someone else’s kindness forward. See how these small acts boost your mental health and have the added bonus of likely making a positive impact on others.

More importantly, check in on loved ones and ask them about how they’re doing. Talk to your kids about their mental health. We know that 1 in 5 kids are experiencing behavioral health issues, such as anxiety or depression.

Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish; it is necessary for you to be able to take care of others and lead a fulfilling life. By encouraging others to seek help, helping others access help or simply by being there for someone when they need us, we instill hope in ourselves and those around us.

So, make self-care a priority this May and beyond. Spread positivity. Be hopeful. Practice patience and kindness and empathy toward others. It may just make a life-changing difference.

If you are needing some extra support reach out to Becky or Deb at Together We Can. We would be glad to help you through your mental health issues. You can stop by our office at 8 West Church Street or call (515) 391-3233. You can also reach us at twc50158@gmail.com.

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Becky Brown and Deb Williams are the cofounders of Together We Can, a mental health nonprofit based in Marshalltown.