Support Your Mental Health: Simple Strategies and Trusted Resources
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that while awareness matters, what really helps is taking small, consistent steps to support your mental health.
Mental health shapes how you think, learn, and connect with others. It also affects physical health over time. For students especially, it can influence focus, motivation, relationships, and overall well-being.
Even with more open conversations today, barriers like stigma, time, and access still make it hard to get mental health support. Here are some practical tools and trusted resources to improve and prioritize mental health year-round.
A few simple mental health support tools
- Do a quick daily check-in
Take 30 seconds to ask yourself: What am I feeling? What do I need today?
If the answer is “I don’t know,” that’s okay—just noticing is a useful first step.
- Name your stressors (not just your feelings)
Instead of “I’m overwhelmed,” get specific: Is it a deadline? social pressure? lack of sleep?
Once you name the source, it’s easier to decide what might help.
- Build one healthy “anchor habit” into your day
Pick something realistic you can repeat most days—like a 10-minute walk, a consistent bedtime, or writing a few thoughts down. Consistency matters more than intensity.
- Create a short reset routine
When your stress spikes, have a go-to plan: step outside, take a few slow breaths, drink water, or put your phone down for 5 minutes. Practicing this ahead of time makes it easier to use when you need it.
Trusted resources
- Mental Health Is Health – Easy starting points and everyday actions to support your mental health. We recommend visiting this page and using the flowchart of what you’re feeling to find coping strategies.
- The Jed Foundation – Tools for managing stress, finding connection, and building coping skills. Use the “I Need Help” tab to find resources for yourself and the “I Want to Help” tab to support others.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Educational resources and a therapist directory. This resource contains useful blog content, personal stories from people working on their mental health, and newsletters to sign up for regularly delivered mental health content.
Need immediate support? The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained counselor.