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How Can You Take Care of Your Mental Health?
Tips from the City of Hamilton:
- Listen to how you are feeling and talk with your family or friends about your questions and concerns.
- Allow yourself to stop and think about how you are feeling. Some questions to ask yourself are:
- How am I feeling?
- Do I feel like myself?
- Am I taking care of myself?
- Am I feeling easily frustrated?
- Am I staying connected with others?
- Set aside a dedicated time every day to reflect on how you are feeling and check out these mindfulness tips.
- When experiencing big feelings, it can be helpful to reach out to someone that can understand your feelings. Try to explain how you feel and what support you would like. The other person will have a better idea about how to support you and help you feel heard.
- Here’s how you can start the conversation with family or friends about how you are feeling.
- Allow yourself to stop and think about how you are feeling. Some questions to ask yourself are:
- You can allow yourself to be patient and know that is normal to have many emotions.
- Taking time every day for self-care can help you cope with the emotions you are feeling. Check out Self-Care 101.
- Check the Youth Mental Health Resource Hub for self-care ideas including breathing and muscle relaxation exercises.
- School Mental Health Ontario provides information on taking care of your mental health.
- You can try an app:
- For help with feelings of anxiety: Mindshift app
- For help with feelings of depression: MoodTools app
- Notice some of the positive things around you and in your community.
- Try practicing gratitude or being thankful by focusing on things that can help you feel good.
- Try to write one thing you are thankful for every day. You can think of people, memories, your strengths or anything else in your life that you are thankful for.
- It can be helpful to re-read what you are thankful for when you are having a bad day.
- Focus on what is in your control.
- Check YourSpace Hamilton to learn about focusing what is within your control.
- Try these strategies to help your find ways to relax and manage your feelings during stressful times.
- Have a routine.
- A consistent but flexible routine can help you feel calmer.
