The start of a new year gives us all the unique opportunity to reflect: practicing gratitude for the things we appreciate from the past year and making promises to do something differently in the new year, be that acts of self-improvement or doing something positive for other people.
Even if you’re not a fan of traditional New Year’s resolutions, January is an excellent time to take inventory of your current mental health and think about the ways you can improve or maintain it.
While this is especially important for people in BIPOC communities – many of whom are more likely to experience mental illness and less likely to receive treatment for those mental illnesses – taking a hard look at the areas that impact our lives and mental health can feel like a vulnerable exercise. Whether it be politics, public education, healthcare, the wealth gap, income disparity, law enforcement challenges in our community, the lack of justice in the justice system, housing disparities, and many other areas – improving our overall condition often requires addressing the longstanding and deep-rooted issues we continue to face.
If you’re looking for ways to make mental health more of a priority in 2023, here are a few practical tips for how to get started.
Invest in Culturally Intentional Therapy
No matter who you are, you deserve therapy that puts your culture and experiences first. This is especially important for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, who face unique mental health challenges and are typically left out of the U.S. mental healthcare system.
For example, 20% of Black Americans are more likely to struggle with mental illness due to complex societal stressors. Yet they receive treatment at significantly lower rates than white Americans (54% of Black Americans are treated for depression compared to 73% of white Americans).
Hurdle is working hard to change that with culturally intentional therapy, making it easier for all people to access the quality mental healthcare they need, whenever and wherever they need it. And if you’re looking for a way to make your mental health more of a priority in 2023, therapy is an excellent place to start.
Whether you’re experiencing high stress levels, depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental illness, Hurdle’s culturally intentional therapy can help you better manage your mental health with evidence-based practices and a safe space to process your emotions.
To learn more about our therapy model and the insurance plans we accept, visit this page.
No matter who you are, you deserve therapy that puts your culture and experiences first. This is especially important for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, who face unique mental health challenges and are typically left out of the U.S. mental healthcare system.
Set Goals and Make a Plan to Achieve Them
It’s easy to say you want to improve your mental health in 2023, but you’ll have a much greater chance of success if you’re able to identify specific goals and then create a plan for turning those goals into realities.
Types of mental health goals may include treatment-related goals, emotional goals, self-care goals, and relationship goals, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
One tool for helping you create a plan for pursuing your goals is the concept of S.M.A.R.T. goals. S.M.A.R.T. goals are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
A culturally intentional therapist can also help you identify the mental health goals that can have the most positive impact on your life this year, and they can work with you on developing the tools and skills you’ll need to achieve those goals.
Be Patient with Yourself
As you’re working to improve your mental health, it’s important to be patient with yourself. None of us are perfect, and setbacks are a natural part of any mental health journey.
It’s alright if you struggle to reach your goals, and you can give yourself grace if you fail to achieve everything you hoped to this year. The fact that you’re even trying at all means you’re already on the right track.
If you have questions about how Hurdle’s culturally intentional therapy can help you prioritize your mental health in 2023, one of our free information sessions is an excellent way to get the information you need. You can sign up for one today at this link.
