Keep listening, talking and being there for yourself and each other
Video / January 26, 2022
Transcript
(ACZ) I find balance by having me-time. That can look different everyday but it's really time to myself and this allows me to recharge.
(VL) Through Audiobooks a lot.
(SL) I started creating these daily funny meeting invites for my little girl, which included focused, uninterrupted, turning-off-all-phones time.
(PP) Family outings, whether it's walking the dogs, visits, or even using online chats or text messages just to touch base with those people that are important to you.
(JV) I do schedule my daily routine around my dog, which is great because it gives me time to break away from the daily routine to go out for a walk or just sit down relax and play with him. That has been great for me, I would say, emotionally and mentally.
(MM) Having good mental health for me is really being able to find that balance with regards to enjoying time with friends and family, balancing life activities with work.
(PP) It's not fighting the emotions you might be having or denying the emotions you might be having. So for instance, if you're angry one day or if you're in the moment you're happy it's going through those emotions. Then if they're too much, finding someone to talk to.
(VL) When you're able to identify the feelings that you're having regarding a situation and also your reaction and able to actually realize that there is a different way we can approach things to make either ourselves feel better or others as well around.
(JV) The way we can reduce the stigma around mental illness is by spreading awareness. I find we, as a society, are scared of what we don't know and once we have a good understanding of the fact that mental health is just as important as physical health, we can understand the fact that mentally we can also get hurt but we can recover from it. Just as we can with physical hurt.
(PP) I was recently in a standard first-aid course and there's now a mental first-aid section in it. And I recanted my story of coming back from Afghanistan, not doing so well and how I used the Member Assistance Program and it allowed me to get better. And now I'll be able to share my story with those that need to hear it.
(SL) How do I think I can support someone who may be struggling with their mental health? I believe strongly in empathy and through small, yet meaningful, gestures. I recently sent someone a funny picture of this large shoulder to show them that I'm there for them to lean on.
(JV) Lending an ear. I've always been a person who's just like, “Okay, this is a problem. I have a solution. Let's fix it.” And I have learned over time, that that is best left for professionals.
(ACZ) We may not have the answers or know how to help, but we can be someone who's there and ready to listen.
(MM) Being a good friend, being a good co-worker, supervisor and knowing where to find the resources that they may require to help them become better.
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