Tips And Resources To Focus on Mental Health

In today’s fast-paced and uncertain world, many of us are facing challenges we never expected. Even those who’ve never struggled with mental health before may find themselves feeling overwhelmed, anxious or stressed. 

You're not alone—and support is always within reach. Mental Health Awareness Month is a good time to take a pulse on your mental health wellness and find ways to prioritize it in your daily life. 

Getting Started 

“Prioritizing your mental health begins with self-care and reaching out for support when you need it,” says Robert Trestman, PhD, MD, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Department of Psychiatry at VTC. 

There are many tools available through our organization and national associations that can help you process troubling events, including: 

• Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) allows you to talk with a licensed mental health professional to get confidential counseling and help with personal and job-related challenges. Carilion covers 100% of the cost for up to 5 sessions per year, per issue. 
• Mental Health America (MHA) has a mental health screening you can complete. It’s a quick, free and confidential way to determine if you are experiencing signs of a mental health condition.  

Helpful Tips 

As you're working through a difficult situation or challenging circumstances, keep these tips in mind:

• Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. 
• While one in five people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. 
• Knowing when to turn to friends, family and co-workers when you are struggling with life’s challenges can help improve your mental health. 
• Living a healthy lifestyle and incorporating mental health tools to thrive may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. 
• Seeking professional help when self-help efforts to improve your mental health aren’t working is a sign of strength, not weakness. 
• Recovery is a unique and personal journey that requires trial and error to determine what works best for you. 

Also remember, it's important to: 

• Accept the situations in life that we cannot change. 
• Actively work to process the mental struggles associated with big changes. 
• Manage anger and frustration. 
• Recognize when trauma may be affecting your mental health. 
• Challenge negative thinking patterns.  
• Make time to take care of yourself. 

More Resources 

Now that you have a pulse on your mental health, here are more resources to help you work toward wellness: 

• TRUST Team – This team offers compassionate, peer-to-peer support for health care providers who are impacted by adverse events. 
• Chaplaincy – Learn about our team of chaplains and their spiritual guidance and support for all employees. 
• The Center for Grief and Healing – Check out free support groups and grief resources and learn how to appropriately respond to grieving patients and co-workers through Cornerstone. 
• Personify Health – This platform brings all our Wellness at Work resources together in one convenient place. Get rewarded for prioritizing your well-being and staying up to date on all the latest wellness events and opportunities.   
• Health and Wellness – Learn about self-care, nutrition and other ways to recharge your mental health.