Benefits of Reading & Accepting It's OK Not to Be OK

M A Y 2 0 2 5 M E N T A L H E A L T H M I N U T E Mental Health Minute It’s OK Not to Be OK Mental Health Awareness Month, observed each May, highlights the importance of mental health and encourages individuals to seek help without shame. Over half of U.S. adults will experience a mental illness—such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder—at some point, yet many go untreated due to cost, access issues, and stigma. Untreated mental health conditions can impact daily life, work, and relationships. Mental health conditions are common, real and often treatable. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, so consider the following ways to gain mental health support: • Talk to someone you trust - a friend, mentor or family member—and share your feelings. • Use confidential 24/7 hotlines - for immediate support, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for treatment referrals, or call/text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. • Join support groups – gain a sense of community and understanding. • Practice self-care activities - exercise, healthy eating, quality sleep, mindfulness and any personal hobbies. • Seek professional help – therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists can help navigate mental health challenges. Most people experience mental health challenges at some point, and seeking help is a courageous—and critical—step toward recovery. 401 Pennsylvania Pkwy, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46280 LHDbenefits.com Office: Population Health: [email protected] 4 Reasons Why Reading Is Good For Your Brain Reading isn’t just for leisure—it also boosts mental health. Daily reading can improve brain function, reduce stress, and support emotional well-being. Some professionals even use bibliotherapy— books as therapy—to help treat anxiety, depression, and grief. Here are four ways reading benefits your brain: 1. Cognitive stimulation. Regular readers are more likely to maintain their cognitive ability as they age. 2. Stress reduction. Reading for as little as six minutes can reduce stress by 68%. It can also be a healthy escape from daily stressors. You immerse yourself in a new world and, without visuals, can invent or visualize it yourself. 3. Improved focus. Reading requires concentration and attention to detail, which can improve one’s general ability to focus on tasks. 4. Social skill development. Frequent fiction readers often have better social ability and can easily empathize with others. While reading is clearly beneficial, mental illness can sometimes affect one’s ability to read. If that’s the case, try audiobooks or choose short, engaging books in easy-to-read formats. The overall goal is to avoid adding extra pressure on yourself. If your identity feels tied to reading or you're stressed about reading goals, let go of that self-imposed pressure and focus on other hobbies that bring you joy.