Taking Care of Yourself and Your Sisters on World Mental Health Day
On World Mental Health Day, we want to remind our members to check in on their own mental health and well-being as well as provide resources to support their friends and family. How do you spot signs of a friend or family member struggling with their mental health? How do you spot signs within yourself? Where do you go from there? Check out the resources below to support yourself and others on their mental health journey.
Identify Signs of Mental Illness
How do you know if you have a mental illness? What signs should you look for in others? It can be difficult to determine the difference between typical behaviors and behaviors that might indicate a mental health concern. While there is no simple list of behaviors that indicate mental illness, the resources below will help you identify common signs and symptoms.
- Identifying Signs of Mental Illness in Yourself – Jed Foundation
- Identifying Signs of Mental Illness in Others – National Alliance on Mental Illness
Start a Conversation
Conversations about mental health can be uncomfortable but they may be the reason you or someone you know decides to seek help. Have you noticed a friend who has had extreme fluctuation in mood? Maybe your sister keeps missing your Wednesday night phone call. Check in on your sisters, roommates, coworkers, classmates, family or friends by starting the conversation. Not sure where to start? Check out the resource below!
Seek Professional Help
If you feel like you're ready to take action regarding your mental health, there are many resources that can guide you in the right direction. Helplines, primary care physicians and mental health professionals can all help you take that first step. You don't need to be an expert to recognize when you or someone you know needs help. If you sense something is wrong, seek professional help using the resource below.
Learn How Culture and Identity Affect Mental Health
Mental illness affects everyone differently. Signs, symptoms and treatments must be tailored to each person’s unique identity, culture and lived experience. Culture and identity can also create additional barriers to receiving mental health care including greater stigma, financial strain and lack of diversity among mental health professionals. It's not only important to be aware of these issues but to offer support as well. Learn how to be an advocate for yourself and others using the resource below.
- Learn More – National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Prioritizing Minority Mental Health – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Bring the Discussion to your Chapter or Club
Want to discuss the importance of mental health with your sisters? Pi Phi’s Leading with Values seminars provide educational talking points to start necessary conversations. “Navigating Your Mental Health Needs” and "Basics of Self-Care" encourage participants to reflect on their own mental health by identifying barriers, resources and individual self-care needs. Take care of yourself and your sisters by using the resources below.
- Navigating Your Mental Health Needs – Pi Beta Phi Leading with Values
- Basics of Self-Care – Pi Beta Phi Leading with Values
- Critical Conversations Advisor Topic Brief: Mental Health
Published October 10, 2023