Guideline 5: Achieving/Maintaining Good Mental Health

Take to your health care provider to see what’s right for you

use alcohol and substances responsibly and don’t abuse them
maintain healthy diet, regular sleep schedule, and routine exercise or physical activity
secure safe shelter and lodging
use accessibility supports to cope with physical disabilities

cultivate a realistic, accurate and balanced attitude, outlook and accurate self-talk
develop, nurture and maintain personal dignity and self acceptance, warts and all, despite our weaknesses and imperfections
allow and strive for personal growth – we develop, learn and mature all our lives
identify and allow healthy pleasure and happiness in your life

nurture positive rewarding relationships and reevaluate or minimize negative destructive relationships
create and respect appropriate boundaries/limits – being too distant or too close can be unhealthy – try to maintain a balance in relations and work life
develop skills to work through conflict with healthy assertiveness, not aggression (assertiveness training)
become aware of your old relationship patterns and don’t repeat if harmful
recognize endings and beginnings as part of relationships

develop, nurture and maintain your connections to a community and people through community activities, cultural or religious organizations, interest and hobbies, volunteering, friends, family, neighbours or colleagues
stabilize your money and basic finances with work or financial assistance
practice values of justice and equality in your life and in society
employment or “meaningful” productive regular role and structure helps keep social connections and purpose

develop a perspective that recognizes we’re part of something beyond just ourselves
recognize the natural cycle of life which includes endings and new beginnings
cultivate kindness, respect for life and tolerance of differences
develop rituals, customs, practices for significant valued life and cultural events