Happy Mental Health Action Day! Action looks different for everyone. Mental Health Action Day encourages and empowers everyone to take action for themselves, for their loved ones, or for their community based on what works best for them. As our friends at the Association for Children’s Mental Health say, even small actions equal big impact!

Maybe action today means really truly (like actually scheduling) time to care for your mental health. You can start simple- going for a walk or taking a nap (my personal favorite), calling an old friend to catch up, or dare I say heading to the grocery store without the kids or a time limit (parents, you feel me on this one). Maybe you take that one step further and also set aside time to also impact one of your loved one’s mental health care today. Share with your kiddo what mental health is/ what it means to you. Check in on a friend or coworker who you think might need some extra support, even sending some of the great resources from MentalHealthisHealth.us.

Up for something on a little larger scale? You could dip your toes into mental health advocacy by calling or writing a letter to one of your elected officials- you can even send an email these days! Get in touch with your federal Senators, look up your federal or state representatives, or reach out to your Governor to let them know that Mental Health Access should be a priority. Thanks to Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer for declaring this month Mental Health Awareness Month and this week in particular Mental Health Awareness Week for Children, Youth, and their Families. If you’re really passionate about this stuff, check out this step by step guide for how you can become a mental health advocate!

Another way to show your support for mental health? Spend your money at businesses that are supporting the cause too! For example, LL Bean donated $50,000 to Mental Health America and initiated the Feel Good Challenge to promote time outdoors to improve mental health. We’re doing our part here at Moondance Flower Farm too. Any purchase from Moondance Flower Farm will automatically give back to mental health action in May! We are donating 10% of all sales this month to the Michigan Association of Children’s Mental Health. That includes all purchases on our website and in person! You can learn more about @acmh_mi and donate to them directly as well here.

Whatever you do for your mental health and/ or others’ mental health today, remember that mental health IS health - it’s essential to our overall health, wellbeing, and quality of life.

Sending love and calm vibes your way,

Farmer Lindsay