Mental Health Awareness Month
At the start of 2026, many Americans included mental health among their goals for the year. In fact, a national poll from the American Psychiatric Association found that 38% of adults planned to make a mental health–related New Year’s resolution, firmly situating mental wellbeing alongside familiar priorities like physical fitness and financial health.
This reflects a broader shift that has been in motion for some time. Mental health is no longer treated as a secondary concern or something to address only in times of crisis. Increasingly, people are recognizing that mental wellbeing plays a central role in overall health, productivity and quality of life.
Mental Health Awareness Month offers an opportunity to continue that conversation. By increasing understanding, reducing stigma and encouraging everyday habits that support emotional wellbeing, the goal is simple: helping people feel supported and empowered to take care of their mental health.
Mental Health Matters More Than Ever
As we discussed last month, modern life places a wide range of demands on people and affects us in many different ways. Financial pressures, uncertainty about the future, global events and workplace responsibilities can all contribute to overall stress and anxiety.
Research consistently shows that many Americans report feeling anxious about issues such as personal finances, job security and broader uncertainty about any given year ahead. These pressures can accumulate over time, affecting sleep, focus, relationships, and overall wellbeing.
Fortunately, more people are speaking openly about stress, burnout and emotional wellbeing, in an effort to normalize these conversations and reduce stigma. At the same time, workplaces are increasingly recognizing the importance of supporting mental health in the workplace.
Paying Attention to Early Signs of Stress
Because stress and emotional strain often build gradually, mental health challenges rarely appear all at once. More often, they begin with small shifts in mood, energy or behavior that can be easy to overlook in our day-to-day. A restless night here, difficulty focusing there or a growing sense of irritability or exhaustion can sometimes signal that stress is starting to take a toll.
Learning to recognize these early signals can make a meaningful difference. When we notice things are a little off, we can allow ourselves a little space to pause, reset, and if necessary, seek support before stress grows into something more overwhelming. While everyone experiences these moments differently, there are several common signs that may indicate it’s time to check in with your mental wellbeing.
Some early signs to watch for may include:
- Changes in sleep patterns or appetite.
- Difficulty concentrating or staying focused.
- Feeling unusually irritable or emotionally exhausted.
- Withdrawing from social activities or relationships.
- Losing interest in activities that once felt enjoyable.
These experiences can happen to anyone, especially during periods of increased stress. Noticing them early can help people take steps to reset, seek support or make small adjustments that protect their wellbeing.
It’s the Little Things…
With all of this in mind, some of the most effective ways to support emotional wellbeing are also some of the simplest. Everyday habits like moving your body, getting enough sleep, spending a little time outdoors or taking a few moments to just breathe and refocus your energy can all help reduce stress and support a healthier state of mind.
For those days when life feels especially heavy, reaching out to a trusted colleague, friend, family member or professional resource can be just as, if not more so important.
None of these actions need to be big or dramatic to be effective. Like a lot of life’s lovely little challenges, it’s the little things that help build us up and keep us going.
At its core, mental health awareness is about connecting with ourselves and to the people around us. By continuing to talk openly about mental wellbeing and supporting one another, we help create environments where people feel safe asking for help when they need it.
Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness emphasize that every person’s mental health journey is unique, but the strength people develop along the way connects us all.
This May, Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a reminder that caring for your mental wellbeing is not a luxury. On the contrary, it’s an important part of living a healthy, balanced life.
2026 WISE & WELL WEBINAR SERIES
Staying Present in Unpredictable Times: Cultivating Calm, Connection, and Clarity
Tuesday, May 12 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET
Mental health matters every day. May is a time to normalize conversations, share resources and encourage self-care. We’ll spotlight tools for resilience, connection and support — because everyone deserves to feel seen and supported.
Monthly Moves
The Resistance Band Leg Workout You Can Do Anywhere
Resistance bands are one of the simplest and most effective tools for building lower-body strength without needing a full gym setup. They provide continuous tension throughout each movement, helping activate muscles that traditional weights sometimes miss while remaining easy on the joints.
Because resistance bands are lightweight and portable, these exercises can be done almost anywhere. That means your living room, office or even a hotel room while you’re traveling. The routine below focuses on a few foundational movements that strengthen your legs, improve balance and support everyday mobility.
To perform these exercises:
Squats with Resistance Bands
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with the resistance band looped around your thighs just above your knees. Lower into a squat while keeping your back straight and your chest upright. Push through your heels to return to a standing position while maintaining tension in the band.
The band increases resistance throughout the movement and encourages proper knee alignment while strengthening your quadriceps, glutes and core.
The goal: 12–15 repetitions, 2–3 sets
Glute Bridges
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place the resistance band around your thighs just above your knees. Press through your heels and lift your hips toward the ceiling while squeezing your glutes. Slowly lower back down and repeat.
This movement strengthens the glutes and hamstrings while also helping support hip stability and posture.
The goal: 12–15 repetitions, 2–3 sets
Lunges
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Step forward with one leg and lower your back knee toward the floor while keeping your torso upright. Push through your front heel to return to the starting position.
Lunges help strengthen the quadriceps and glutes while improving balance and coordination. Reverse lunges, where you’re stepping backward instead of forward, are another effective variation.
The goal: 10–12 repetitions per leg, 2–3 sets
Focus on Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Place a resistance band around your ankles or just above your knees and assume a slight squat position. Step sideways while keeping tension in the band, then bring your other foot in without allowing the band to slacken.
This exercise targets the gluteus medius, an important muscle that supports hip stability and knee alignment.
The goal: 10–15 steps each direction, 2–3 rounds
Monthly Recipe
Strawberry Crisp
May is one of the best months of the year. It brings longer days, warmer weather and, perhaps most importantly, strawberries in season. While eating healthy and staying active are important parts of wellbeing, we firmly believe it’s hard to stay either wise or well if you can’t enjoy something sweet every now and then.
This strawberry crisp makes the most of those fresh, in-season berries. Juicy strawberries are topped with a buttery oat crumble and baked until warm and bubbly. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and you have a dessert that tastes like a bowl full of early summer.
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 5 heaping cups of fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
For the Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep-dish pie plate or large baking dish with butter or cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine the chopped strawberries and sugar in a large bowl and mix until the strawberries fully absorb the sugar. Add in the cornstarch and vanilla extract and stir until all of the strawberries are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
- In a separate medium size bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir well until well coated and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the strawberries.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.
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