Campaign Supports May’s Mental Health Awareness Month
This May, the McKnight Brain Research Foundation (MBRF) is commemorating Mental Health Awareness Month with the Mental Health Matters campaign – an initiative offering information on the importance of mental health as an overall component of brain health. As an empowering aspect of the month, the MBRF will post a weekly series of blogs on the connection between brain health and mental health, including the importance of reducing stress, practicing self-care and seeking medical attention for any symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns.
“Mental health is an important component of overall brain health and we are proud to promote Mental Health Awareness Month by encouraging people of all ages to prioritize their mental health this month and throughout the year,” said Michael L. Dockery, MD, Chair, McKnight Brain Research Foundation. “We hope our Mental Health Matters campaign inspires people to take steps to reduce stress and practice self-care as they work to protect their brain health and live an active and healthy lifestyle.”
With cognitive changes due to the normal aging process affecting nearly 87 percent of people age 65 and older, the McKnight Brain Research Foundation is the nation’s only private foundation dedicated exclusively to solving the mysteries of the aging brain and helping people achieve a lifetime of cognitive health. The Foundation supports research specifically targeting cognitive aging, and age-related cognitive decline and memory loss and also works to educate the public on the steps they can take to maintain cognitive and brain health.
Recent studies suggest stress can accelerate the aging process, making managing stress a critical component to healthy aging. The good news is – from exercising to eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep – the steps to manage stress go hand in hand with the actions needed to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. Engaging in deep breathing, positive visualization and other mindfulness activities also goes a long way to reducing stress and promoting mental health.
Experiencing stress is normal, and this May, the MBRF encourages everyone to declare their Mental Health Matters by being proactive about boosting their brain health with more self-care and less stress.
We hope our Mental Health Matters campaign inspires people to take steps to reduce stress and practice self-care as they work to protect their brain health and live an active and healthy lifestyle.
Michael L. Dockery, MD, Chair, McKnight Brain Research Foundation
