Eight Ways to Boost Your Mental Health by Frieda Edgette We are all feeling the effects of a global pandemic that physically separates us from those we love, upends how we work, limits our play, and challenges our lives. Stress and strain on our mental health is one of the only certainties in these uncertain times. Prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), one in ve Americans reported suffering from mental illness, including anxiety and depression. In our new world, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that nearly 50 percent of Americans are experiencing elevated mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or suicidal thoughts. The Washington Post reports a 1,000 percent uptick in calls to a federal emergency hotline for emotional distress. These numbers highlight two undeniable realities: (1) if you are experiencing stress, you are not alone; and (2) nurturing our well-being is not a nice-to-have, it’s essential. As a civic manager, you are uniquely on the frontlines of both complying with shelter-in-place orders and creating a safe societal solution for an unknown future. It’s a tall order. And, amid it all, you have the power to calm your mind, strengthen your body, and act with purpose. Just like strengthening a muscle, you can build mental health with time, dedication, and practice. To get you started, here are the eight most popular, high-impact mental health strategies of the civic leaders I work with: Reprinted f rom the ICMA Blog, May 12, 2020.
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