World Mental Health Day: The Importance of Checking in With Yourself and Others
Our days can move quickly. Between work, family, responsibilities and everything else that fills our schedules, it can be easy to keep moving without taking a moment to ask ourselves a simple but important question: How am I really doing?
This World Mental Health Day, Peterson Health is encouraging our community to slow down, check in with ourselves and make space for honest conversations about mental health. To learn more about what checking in can look like in our everyday lives, we spoke with Janice Rodriguez, Bereavement Coordinator at Peterson Health, who shared her perspective on recognizing when we may need support and how we can be there for the people around us.
What Does It Mean to Check in with Yourself?
According to Janice, checking in with yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. It can start with simply slowing down long enough to recognize what you’re feeling.
“Checking in with yourself means taking a moment to slow down and honestly ask, ‘How am I doing right now?’”
That might mean paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, stress level or energy. Many of us move so quickly through our days that we don’t realize we’re carrying anxiety, sadness, frustration or exhaustion until we feel overwhelmed.
“Checking in gives us an opportunity to recognize what we need before we reach that point,” Janice said.
Taking a moment to pause can help us become more aware of what we may be experiencing and give us an opportunity to respond before stress, and emotions begin to feel unmanageable.
Recognizing When We Need Help
Recognizing that we need support isn’t always easy. Many of us are accustomed to taking care of other people first. We may tell ourselves we’re fine, push through discomfort or feel like we should be able to handle everything on our own.
Janice says that stress can build gradually, which can make it difficult to recognize how much we’re carrying. We may also worry about being judged or believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness.
But asking for help doesn’t mean you aren’t strong.
“It is a sign of self-awareness and strength,” Janice said.
There may not always be one obvious sign that it’s time to slow down and check in with yourself. Sometimes our emotions tell us something is wrong, while other times our bodies may speak up first. Feeling constantly tired, becoming more irritable than usual, having trouble sleeping, feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks, withdrawing from friends or family or losing interest in things you normally enjoy can all be signs that something may be weighing on you.
“Sometimes our bodies tell us before our minds do through headaches, tension, or exhaustion,” Janice explained. “When something feels ‘off,’ it’s often worth paying attention to.”
Checking In with the People We Care About
Checking in isn’t only something we can do for ourselves. It is also a simple way to support the people we care about. Janice encourages people to put away distractions, make eye contact and create space for honesty. More than anything, she says, being present can make a difference.
“We don’t need to have all the right words; we just need to show that we care,” Janice said.
That reminder can be especially important when someone is struggling but may not know how to ask for help. Letting someone know that they don’t have to carry everything alone can be a meaningful first step.
You Don’t Have to Carry Everything Alone
For someone who feels like they should be able to handle everything on their own, Janice has a simple message: you don’t have to.
“We all need support at different times in our lives,” she said. “Asking for help is not weakness; it’s part of being human.”
Reaching out can be difficult, especially when we are used to being the person others depend on. But struggling in silence doesn’t make the situation easier, and asking for support can be an important part of taking care of ourselves.
“In fact, reaching out often takes more courage than struggling in silence,” Janice said. “The people who care about you would much rather know you’re having a difficult time than see you carry that burden by yourself.”
A Reminder This World Mental Health Day
Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being, and creating space to talk about it matters. World Mental Health Day gives us an opportunity to pause and remember that taking care of our mental and emotional health deserves attention just like our physical health.
Janice hopes people take away one simple message this World Mental Health Day: it’s okay to talk about mental health, and it’s okay to ask for help.
“Checking in with yourself and others can make a real difference,” she said. “A simple conversation, a moment of honesty, or asking for help when you need it can be the first step toward healing.”
This World Mental Health Day, take a moment to check in with yourself. Ask how you’re really doing. Pay attention to what you may need, and don’t be afraid to reach out for support. Then, check in with someone else. Send the text. Make the phone call. Ask the question and be willing to listen.
As Janice reminds us, “None of us have to walk through life’s challenges alone.”
Support in Kerrville
Here are a few local resources to consider:
- Peterson Health – https://www.petersonhealth.com/
- Kerr County Mental Health Center – https://hillcountry.org/services/kerr-county-mh-center/
- Hill Country MHDD Center – https://hillcountry.org/crisis-stabilization-unit/
- BCFS Health and Human Services – Kerrville – https://bcfscsd.org/location_regions/kerrville/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support, available 24/7.
Reaching out for help is a sign of taking care of yourself. Whether you need immediate support or simply want to learn more about the resources available in our community, you don’t have to go through it alone.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Peterson Health is Here to Help
This World Mental Health Day, check in with yourself. Check in with someone you care about. And remember that asking for help is okay.
