Celebrate March as Social Work Month
Introduction
This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the contributions that social workers make to our communities. March is Social Work Month, and every year there are dozens of events around the world designed to celebrate this profession. Why is it so important that we celebrate this profession? The answer is simple: because social workers help people!
Social workers are an integral part of society and have been helping people for decades. They help individuals, families and communities reach their highest potential by providing mental health services, counseling and education. Social workers also address many other needs including housing, financial support, family issues or substance abuse problems.
Spring and mental health
Spring is a time of renewal and growth. It's the season when nature awakens from its winter slumber, bursting with life once more. Flowers bloom, trees sprout leaves, and birdsong fills the air as animals begin to mate and nest.
Spring also marks a turning point in our lives--a chance for new beginnings after winter's hibernation or an opportunity to grow beyond what we've been doing all along (or even just finish up some lingering tasks).
Whether you're looking forward to warmer weather or dealing with seasonal depression, here are some ways you can celebrate Social Work Month by embracing spring:
Spring is here! That means more sunlight, warmer weather and longer days. It's also a great time to make sure your mental health is on track.
Spring is here! That means more sunlight, warmer weather and longer days. It's also a great time to make sure your mental health is on track.
Spring is a time of growth and renewal. As the temperatures warm up and the days get longer, people start to feel more energized, optimistic and connected to others--and that can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining good mental health over the long haul.
Spring is here! That means more sunlight, warmer weather and longer days. It's also a great time to make sure your mental health is on track.
Spring is here! That means more sunlight, warmer weather and longer days. It's also a great time to make sure your mental health is on track. Spring is when people start to feel more energized after the long winter months. They may be more optimistic about their future and feel connected to others around them. But this can also lead to feelings of anxiety or depression if you're not managing your stress well enough--especially if you don't have any support systems in place yet (or if they're not working).
If you find that springtime brings out some negative emotions for you, try these tips:
According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, March is National Social Work Month. Here are some simple ways you can support your mental health this month:
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health issue, it can be hard to know where to turn. Social workers are trained professionals who can help people with mental health issues--and they're important allies in the fight against stigma and discrimination against those living with mental illness.
In honor of National Social Work Month (March), here are some simple ways you can support your mental health this month:
If someone tells you they're having a hard time and want to talk about it, listen carefully and ask questions if necessary. Be open-minded about what they say--you might find yourself surprised by what comes out!
Practice mindfulness.
The practice of mindfulness is all about focusing on the present moment. It's a way of learning to be fully present in your life, which can help you feel more satisfied, calm and healthy.
Practice mindfulness meditation. This involves sitting quietly with your eyes closed for 10-20 minutes each day (or whatever feels right for you). You may want to listen to some relaxing music while doing this--you can even use our free guided meditations if you'd like!
Eat mindfully by taking time before each meal or snack so that you're aware of what food choices you're making and why they're important for your health--and then savoring each bite as though it were going into someone else's mouth instead of yours! This might sound strange at first but it really helps keep us from overeating when we're stressed out because we'll become more focused on how good something tastes rather than just stuffing ourselves until we feel full as quickly as possible just so we don't have another stressful situation on our hands later down the road...so next time when someone asks "How are things going?" try saying something like: "Great! How about yourself?"
Write in your journal.
Journaling is a great way to express your feelings and identify patterns in your behavior. It can also help you manage stress and make you feel more mindful, connected to others, or simply happier.
Take care of your body.
Eat healthy.
Exercise regularly.
Get enough sleep and rest.
Get a massage! Massage is known to have many benefits, including reducing stress levels, improving circulation and relieving muscle tension. There are even studies that show how massage can improve your immune system function by increasing white blood cell count and lymphocyte response time after exercise (1).
Reach out for help if you're feeling overwhelmed or depressed.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or depressed, reach out to a friend. If that doesn't help and your feelings continue to get worse, seek professional help. There are many ways to find support:
Talk with someone in your social circle who is familiar with your situation (e.g., a close friend). This can be especially helpful if they have gone through similar experiences themselves and can empathize with what you're going through.
Seek out the services of a mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist who can provide individualized therapy sessions tailored to meet your needs as well as refer you toward other resources if necessary (e.g., group counseling).
If these options aren't available or don't work for whatever reason, try finding others who share similar interests through local community organizations such as churches; self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous; or even online forums like Reddit's r/SocialWork subreddit where people discuss everything from how best go about choosing graduate programs all the way down into more specific questions like "Am I ready?"
Be mindful of how you can take care of yourself every day and especially this month!
Be mindful of how you can take care of yourself every day and especially this month!
This is the perfect time to practice mindfulness, a technique that helps us focus on the present moment without judgment or emotion. When we're mindful, we are able to notice things we may not have noticed before--like how our body feels when it's tired or hungry or full; what sounds are around us at any given moment; what smells might be in our environment right now. Being able to notice these things can help us better understand our needs so that we can meet them more easily.
If your life feels overwhelming right now (or even if it doesn't), try writing in your journal every day for five minutes about anything going on with yourself: feelings about work/school/home life etc., memories from childhood/adulthood etc., hopes for the future etc.. Writing down thoughts like these helps put them into perspective and allows us room within ourselves where there isn't so much noise anymore--just quiet reflection on all sorts of topics related directly back toward ourselves instead of outwardly focused toward others only!
Conclusion
If you're feeling overwhelmed or depressed, reach out for help. You can call a therapist or counselor for an initial consultation, which is usually free of charge. Or contact your local mental health agency to see what services they offer in your area.