In the UK (and probably elsewhere), May is mental health awareness month 2025. Today I am going to outline some brief tips that you might not have considered to help you with your mental health.
Forget generic run of the mill advice like take time to look after yourself, these are a bit different.
Don’t Make Financial Decisions when Stressed
When we are in a mental health episode, whether that be depression, anxiety or general stress, our minds often become foggy. This is due to our brains over-working and becoming tired. Brain fog can be exacerbated by poor sleep as well, another common side effect of mental health issues.
Financial decisions like day to day spending are unavoidable, but other financial decisions such as taking a credit card, making that impulse purchase, or booking a holiday can have lasting negative impact.
Some mental health advocates state you should be spending to try and cheer yourself up – unfortunately, this spending can cause future mental health problems especially if you spend more than you can afford or get into debt.
My advice, spend modestly during a mental health episode and look forward to the money and financial decisions after it has passed – like booking that much-needed holiday.
Double Up on NHS Treatment with Local Support Charities
The NHS is notoriously slow when it comes to mental health conditions. In most cases, serious mental health conditions are not diagnosed because the first point of contact will be your GP (who has limited experience and expertise in psychiatric disorders).
It can take many visits to a GP just to get a referral to a psychiatrist and then months or even years on a waiting list. Not great if you need help at that moment.
Of course, you should still be seeking professional help from a GP, but you can double up on this by reaching out to community groups and support charities who may be able to meet with you sooner and provide the support you need when you need it most.
Change Up Your Diet – Mental Health Awareness Month 2025
Our diets can often slide into eating foods we know we will regret eating later or foods that have very little nutritional value.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, you may be tempted to continue eating in the same way because it is comfortable.
My advice is to maintain your existing diet but make a couple of changes. You will know which healthy foods you like, and which ones you haven’t consumed in a while. And add those into your daily diet. An apple after dinner with yoghurt? A chamomile tea before bed.
Little healthy comforts that make a big difference to how you feel about your diet over the course of a week. Importantly, make sure you are drinking plenty of water, your body will thank you for it and drinking plenty (and frequent toilet breaks) can be a distracting routine from other thoughts.
Avoid Long-Term Goals – Mental Health Awareness Month 2025
Goals are important, long-term goals especially as they will shape the trajectory of our lives.
When in a mental health ‘funk’ it can be difficult to gain perspective on our daily lives let alone what the future holds. It is important in these moments to prioritise simple tasks like cooking meals, tidying the house, running errands, going for that walk in the sun that you have been putting off.
Long-term goals will always be there to make when you have got your mental health in a more stable condition.
Create a Journal
When you are in it, it can feel like there is no escaping. Mental health conditions, especially depression can really make you feel like you are in a hole without any way to vent.
Journaling is an opportunity for you to express yourself, without judgement, in private away from the world. Think of it as your ability to put the feelings you are struggling with onto page. Sometimes the feelings will come out coherently and help you get a little perspective.
Other times it might be a mess, a scrawl of words and doodles.
Whatever it is, it is getting what is inside – out, in a productive and harmless way.