Are You Mentally Fit? Let’s Talk About the Health No One Sees
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Isn’t a Luxury—It’s Your Superpower
We talk a lot about physical health—fitness challenges, smoothies, yoga flows—but what about the health we can’t see? The kind that hums quietly in the background, shaping how we think, feel, love, lead, and live?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect moment to bring this vital conversation into the spotlight. Not just because it’s trending. Not just because stats are rising. But because behind every smile, every leadership decision, every late-night email or quiet withdrawal… there’s a mind trying to make sense of the world.
And guess what? Your mental health is not a side quest—it’s the main character. 🧠💪
Let’s talk about it.
What Is Mental Health, Really?
Mental health refers to your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how you handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. And contrary to what you might’ve heard, mental health isn’t just about mental illness.
It’s not only for the days you feel anxious, sad, or burnt out (though it’s definitely for those days too).
Mental health is for the moments when:
You’re juggling too much and forgetting yourself
You’re crushing goals but can’t sleep
You’re smiling in meetings but crumbling inside
You feel “off” and don’t know why
It’s about how you feel in your own skin, how you cope, and how you connect.
Mental health Awareness
The Current Landscape (Spoiler: You’re Not Alone)
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness, ranging from mild to severe. Add to that post-pandemic stress, economic uncertainty, burnout, and global grief... and it’s no wonder we’re all feeling the weight.
But here’s the thing: awareness breaks the stigma.
Talking about mental health opens doors. It says, “Hey, it’s okay to not be okay.” And better yet, “You don’t have to stay that way.”
Mental Health in Real Life
What Mental Health Looks Like in Real Life
Mental health awareness isn’t just for therapists or psychology majors. It’s for parents, leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, and students. It’s for YOU.
Here are some everyday signs that your mental health may need a little TLC:
You feel exhausted even after resting
You snap at loved ones more often
You feel disconnected, numb, or overwhelmed
You overthink simple decisions
You have trouble focusing or following through
You’ve stopped doing things you love
You feel like you’re on autopilot
The truth? These signs are not failures. They are invitations—your body and brain asking you to listen.
Mental Health Deserves Your Attention
Why Mental Health Deserves Your Attention (Not Just in May)
We prioritize so many things: deadlines, diet plans, dental checkups. But mental health? It often falls to the bottom of the to-do list.
Why? Because hustle culture told us that slowing down is lazy. Because we fear being judged. Because we think everyone else is handling it better.
But here’s the real talk:
Ignoring mental health doesn’t make you strong. It makes you stuck.
When your mental health thrives, everything else does too—your relationships, your performance, your creativity, your sense of joy. It’s the foundation that everything else rests on.
So, What Can You Do? (Glad You Asked!)
Let’s keep it real: you don’t need to overhaul your life or meditate for 10 hours a day. But small, intentional steps? They work wonders.
Here are 10 doable ways to prioritize your mental health—starting today:
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Check in with yourself daily (not just your calendar)
Move your body—even a short walk clears brain fog
Eat foods that fuel you, not just fill you
Limit social scrolls—especially when you’re not feeling strong
Say no without guilt when your energy is low
Talk to someone—a friend, a coach, a therapist
Sleep like your life depends on it (because it does)
Practice gratitude—3 things, every morning or night
Label your feelings—“I feel anxious,” “I feel disconnected”
Laugh—watch that silly reel, text your funny friend
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being aware.
Mental health in the workplace
Mental Health in the Workplace: Let’s Get Honest
If you’re in a leadership position or managing a team, mental health isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a performance issue.
Employees who feel supported mentally are:
3x more likely to be engaged
4x more likely to recommend their company as a great place to work
5x more likely to stay long-term
Workplaces that normalize mental health conversations and create a culture of psychological safety see better productivity, lower turnover, and stronger team bonds.
So if you're reading this as an HR leader, supervisor, or CEO: mental health is not an add-on—it’s a leadership skill. Make space. Share your story. Ask how your team is really doing.
Learn more about what a corporate wellness consultant does here!
The Power of Speaking Up!
The Power of Speaking Up
One of the bravest things you can do? Tell the truth about how you're feeling.
Whether it's to a friend, a family member, or a professional—speaking up is strength, not weakness.
When you say:
“I need help”
“I’m feeling overwhelmed”
“I’m not okay right now”
...you give everyone else permission to do the same.
And that ripple effect? It saves lives.
Commit to your emotional well-being
This May, Make It Personal
Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just a hashtag or a campaign. It’s a chance to reflect, reset, and recommit to your emotional well-being.
Ask yourself:
What drains me?
What fills me up?
Who makes me feel seen?
Where do I feel safe?
And then—make a plan. Whether it's therapy, journaling, meditation, or texting a friend once a week. It matters.
You matter.
In Closing: Your Mind is a Garden 🌱
Nourish it. Tend to it. Pull the weeds of comparison and overwork. Water it with kindness, connection, and curiosity.
Because your mental health is not a flaw to fix.
It’s a power to protect.
And you? You’re not alone in this.
Not today. Not this May. Not ever.
About Kathie
Kathie Owen, Consultant and Coach
Kathie Owen is a corporate wellness consultant, speaker, and coach with a passion for helping individuals and teams thrive—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through her signature programs and challenges, she helps companies build engaged, resilient cultures rooted in well-being.
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