Within our lives, many of us will deal with mental or emotional health problems. It might be a temporary problem or a problem that will be with you for your entire life. Either way you should take care of your mental and emotional health and here are some tips to help you do so.

 First thing that can really improve your health is talking to people face to face. Spending quality time with people you love and energize, you can highly increase your mood. Be careful not to spend too much time with people who are negative and socially draining. In addition to just spending time with people, have people who you can sincerely talk with. Being able to talk to someone about any issues can be very helpful. It can feel good to just get what you need out and it can be a good way to get advice. 

 Another good thing for your mental health is keeping up your physical health. This can include staying active, eating healthy foods such as: fish rich with omega 3s, avocados, beans, leafy greens, fresh fruits, and nuts (Sutter Health). In addition, getting proper amounts of sleep can help improve your mental health. Many people may struggle with sleeping whether it is going to sleep or staying asleep. Many people try to take over the counter sleeping medicine and for some it works but for others it does not.  An alternative to those medicines is tart cherry juice as studies from WebMD shows that tart cherry juice can increase sleep time and efficiency. 

       The last bit of advice is to have time to yourself. You can just sit around and read, listen to music, watch a funny movie or show, meditate, or do some yoga. You could also get chores around the house done if that is something that you enjoy doing. Another thing you can

do is reflect on the positive things that happened throughout the day.   

Remember you are not alone and there are people who will help you. Local resources in Rushville that include going to RMH HealthCare Associates. They have a variety of people who can help you with your mental health. There is also Centerstone and Meridian with professionals to help. If you do not want to go to them, you always have your school’s guidance counselor. Over the summer, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline changed its number to 988. They operate twenty-four (24) hours a day and seven (7) days a week. You can also go to their website to find additional resources and information.