Today focuses on Mental Health Awareness, and to assist people in taking small steps to better mental health the CMHA has developed five easy tips for men.

1.  Connect with other people. Find people that you can confide in. Reach out to your wife or partner, your siblings, and your children. Go out with your buddies regularly and talk with them.

2.  Get involved. Develop some hobbies and interests separate from your work. If you don’t have any, think about things that you used to like doing when you were younger: fishing, reading, building model airplanes are just a few suggestions.

3.  Exercise. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exercise can combat depression and other forms of mental illness. Exercise affects some of the same chemicals in the brain that can really help with depression and anxiety. Keep it simple: go for a walk after dinner.

4.  Evaluate. Making an effort to evaluate your life along the way can help prevent problems from becoming crises. Are you happy in your job and relationships? Is there anything that you can do to improve the way you live? Take five minutes to sit and think about how you are feeling.

5.  Consider getting help. Look at therapy as a source of potential tools with which to deal with life. Just as a screwdriver helps you build a bookshelf, a therapist can help you build your mental health. Shop around for someone that you click with.

Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness.

Visit the CMHA website at www.cmha.ca today.