Welcome to our newest spotlight, Wellness Wednesdays! Each month we will be posting a health and wellness tip to help you be your best self! To start out this new series, we’re going to talk about our mental health, and how fitting, May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
Mental Health Awareness Month and is devoted to recognizing the importance of mental health! In 1949 Mental Health Awareness Week was created! Throughout the years the awareness turned from being just a week to being a full month for hospitals and health-based institutions to raise awareness of the importance of our mental health and end the stigma around mental health needs.
As the years progress, and as we have experienced a global pandemic and a year of unprecedented changes, we are continuing to recognize how important mental health awareness is for not just adults, but all ages, all genders, and how each person’s mental health varies greatly.
How do we recognize Mental Health as Girl Scouts?
There are a number of badges that girls can earn in which they focus on mental health with a main theme of overall wellness, but also with a specific mental health requirement:
My Best Self – Brownie Try-It
Staying Fit – Junior Badge
Science of Happiness – Cadette Badge
Women’s Health – Senior Badge
If you’re like me, you are probably looking for additional ways to take care of your mental health. There are so many resources out there for people to choose from. The GSHPA Staff has been talking about the best ways that they care for their mental health. One of our favorites has been a mid-day meditation session. We followed along to this session and this one as well. Another suggestion has been crafting! There are so many craft kits and subscriptions services available to find a new crafting hobby you love. Don’t be afraid to try different things until you find something that brings you joy!
A favorite self-care method in my family is kayaking. We spend our Sunday afternoons in our kayaks exploring new waterways or floating on old favorites. It’s a great way to combine our mental health, the calm that comes from being in the water, and exercise to really have a great full body and spirit workout.
Will you share your favorite mental health tips with us? We can all benefit from trying new ways of relaxing and recentering to ensure our bodies, and our minds, stay healthy for a long time.
GSHPA Blog 