2026 Theme: More Good Days Together
Mental health is essential for overall well-being at every stage of life. Regardless of age, background, or experience, prioritizing mental health strengthens individuals, families, and communities. No matter how you are feeling right now, remember: more good days are possible, help is available, and you are not alone.
May 31 – Connect with Others
Supportive relationships and connected communities foster a sense of belonging and promote mental well-being for all.
- Each person’s mental health journey is unique—a strong support system makes a difference.
- Social connection and community support play a vital role in mental health and recovery.
- Enroll in a class or join a club that interests you.
- Volunteer to help others.
- Seeking support to strengthen resilience and well-being.
- Open conversations about mental health help break stigma and encourage people to seek support.
- “More Good Days, Together” reflects on the importance of building community, providing support, and promoting sustainable wellness – all active ways for individuals, organizations, and communities to have more good days, together.
May 24 – Eating for well-being
You may know that when you have strong emotions, you may feel physically ill. You may experience heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, pain, constipation, or diarrhea. Did you know that eating healthy foods, like fruits, vegetables, and yogurt, can positively affect mood?
- Don’t skip meals. Eating consistently throughout the day provides your brain and body with steady energy. It also prevents your blood sugar from dropping, which can cause nervousness, irritability, and other problems.
- Snack well. Try to have some nuts, whole or dried fruit with you. This keeps your energy up and prevents overeating later.
- Eat a variety of foods. Your brain needs a healthy supply of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to perform functions that affect your mood and thinking.
- Slow down. Do your best to eat slowly and mindfully. Enjoy the texture and flavor of your food and pause to give thanks.
- Be carb smart. Choose carbs like whole-grain breads, fruits, and veggies that can boost serotonin and create a relaxed feeling. Avoid sweets and refined carbs that cause your blood sugar to rise and drop, which leads to irritability, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and difficulty focusing.
- Reduce saturated fat and cholesterol. Your brain needs a strong blood supply to function well. Choose healthy facts like the ones found in fish, avocados, olive oil, and nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids seem to have a mood-stabilizing effect.
- Check out the Mental Health Grocery List.
May 17 – Movement for mental health doesn’t have to mean exercise.
Movement can help you feel calm, reduce stress, and boost your mood. Here are some tips for adding movement.
- Celebrate every bit of movement: Standing or walking during a work shift, carrying a child, taking out the trash, and grocery shopping all support your well-being.
- Start small: Try walking down extra aisles next time you go to a store. Stretch at your desk throughout the workday. Do five push-ups, lunges, or jumping jacks at a time. Take a brief walk in the sun during your lunch break.
- Dance: You’d be surprised to see how much moving to the music for a couple of minutes can boost your mood — whether in your car, at your desk, or at home.
- Search YouTube: You can find many useful videos for walking or other home activities that use household items for movement. There are also playlists that can help you stay motivated. Remember to consult your doctor before starting a new or strenuous activity routine.
- Pair moving with something you enjoy: You can read or watch your favorite show while using a treadmill. You can make playlists of your favorite songs or podcasts to listen to while you walk, run, or stretch. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
- Make movement social: Meet up with a friend to take the dog on a walk, push a young family member on a park swing, or try a TikTok dance with your child. There are also activity apps that let you add friends, make your movement competitive, or even join virtual monthly marathons just by counting your steps!
May 10: Quality sleep is crucial for good mental health.
During REM sleep, the brain processes emotions and memories. Lack of it leads to irritability, mood swings, and inability to manage stress. Here are some tips to help you improve your sleep.
- Set a regular bedtime. Your body likes to have a routine, plus you’re more likely to get enough sleep if you schedule rest like your other important tasks.
- Limit caffeine. Drinking caffeine to stay awake during the day can keep you up at night. Stop drinking coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks 6 to 8 hours before bed.
- De-Stress yourself. Relax by taking a hot bath, meditating, or envisioning a southing scene while lying in bed. Finish any next day preparations about an hour before bed so you won’t be worked about them as you fall asleep.
- Get out in the sun. Getting natural sunlight during the day helps to maintain your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Aim for 30 minutes of sun exposure and be sure to wear sunscreen.
- Exercise. Working out can improve sleep in lots of ways, including relieving muscle tension. Don’t’ work out right before bed since exercise may make you more alert. Instead, try gentle upper-body stretches to help transition into sleep.
- Don’t eat right before bed. It can cause indigestion and heartburn which might mess up sleep.
- Nap smart. If you need a nap, take it before 3 pm and limit it to an hour.
- Say no to nicotine. Tobacco and vape products are stimulants which can keep you up at night.
- Go easy on the drinks. Drinking too much before bed can make you wake up to go to the bathroom and alcohol gets in the way of reaching the deep and restful stages of sleep.
- Limit distractions. Turn off anything in your bedroom that might distract you from sleep. The light from screens can confuse your body’s internal clock.
- Make your bed a sleep haven. No paying bills or writing reports in bed. Also, if you cant fall asleep after 15 minutes, you can try some soothing music, but if you remain alert, experts recommend getting up until you feel more tired.
May 3: Caring for your whole self: Mind and body.
Mental and physical health are equally important; taking care of one supports the other.
- Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Just like with our physical health, we can do things that make us mentally healthier.
- When you feel mentally well, you’re more able to manage the stress and challenges you face in life.
- Self-care is about finding practices that help you support your mental health, even under challenging circumstances.
- Self-care doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive and can help maintain or improve your daily mental wellbeing.
- Regular activity, good nutrition, and quality sleep support both mental and physical well-being.
- Preventive care, strong support networks, and early intervention promote lifelong wellness.
Mental Health Support at Kingswood Church
At Kingswood Church, we affirm that all people are worthy of life, love, and healing—no matter what they look like, no matter where they are on their journeys, no matter what they are or aren’t able to do. Our congregation is deeply committed to helping people be whole in Christ including spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
Take some time each week to promote a healthier state of mind and outlook.
- Connectedness: Spend time with friends, family, or community.
- Join one of our shared interest groups, a life group, or a bible study.
- Values: Engage in activities that provide you with a sense of value and that are important to you.
- Participate in one of the current serving opportunities or ongoing programs listed on our website.
- Achievement: Do something that provides you with both a sense of pleasure and achievement
- Join a volunteer team that uses your special gifts and talents.
- Self-Care: Schedule activities that provide you with a sense of self-care.
- Music has been found to reduce stress and improve focus. Participate in our music ministry or just listen and relax.
- Talk: Talk openly about how you are feeling and what you might be thinking
- Reach out to a member of our Congregational Care Team.
- Staying Present: Find ways to connect yourself to the present moment.
- Watch a butterfly in our garden or sit on a prayer bench and take in the fresh air.
- Coping Skills: Learn, practice, and refine some skills that help you cope with pressure or stress.
- Our labyrinth is a pathway used to guide you in prayer and meditation.
- Relaxation: Switch off and relax your mind and body.
- Read the bible or check out a novel from our library.
- Physical Activity: Exercise is a great tool for boosting mood and reducing anxiety.
- Attend a mission trip, join the men’s basketball league or the Weedfolk team, and check out the happenings on our Events page.
Mental Health Matters for All
Mental health is important for all! Select each tab to review resources and reflections from our 2025 Theme: Mental Health Matters for All.
Mental Health for People from Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
Everyone deserves access to respectful and culturally appropriate care.
- Members of racial and ethnic minority groups experience challenges that may require unique mental health support.
- Addressing and reducing barriers to treatment are the first steps to building more equitable health systems. Support the mental well-being of Black communities.
- Call 988 for crisis support 24 hours per day. Help is available in English and Spanish.
- Culturally and linguistically appropriate information and services can help provide good mental health support for those who need it.
Maternal Mental Health
Pregnancy and parenting can be joyful and can also present a variety of strong emotions.
- Strong emotions may include feeling overwhelmed, scared, tired, worried, and inadequate. Depression, anxiety, and other symptoms during and after pregnancy are common and treatable. They affect new parents of every culture, age, gender, race, and income level.
- For many people, these feelings go away on their own, in time. But for some, these emotions are more serious and require assistance. Help is available. You are not alone. Asking for help can help keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.
- Parenting children can be filled with excitement and stress.
- Proper self-care and seeking help when you need it can help you maintain good mental health.
Mental Health Needs of Older Adults
As we age, we may experience life changes that impact our mental health.
- It’s never too late to get help. Mental health treatment can be part of a wellness program to help older adults live happy and fulfilling lives.
- It is important to remember that older adults may have different mental health symptoms. For example, a lack of interest in some activities.
- Talking about mental health can help older adults feel more comfortable asking for support.
- Mental health is important at every age. Spending time with friends and family can boost older adults’ mental and physical health.
Mental Health for Veterans, Service Members and their Families
- For those that serve or who have served, crises can be heightened by their experiences during military service.
- There is help for those struggling with grief, loss, or trauma.
- Don’t be afraid to let your friends know what you need when they ask; they want to help. You can also reach out to confidential 24/7 services like the Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1).
- Talk to other veterans who have gone through the same kind of trauma that you have. You can access groups through your local VA hospital VFW or American Legion.
Mental Well-Being in the LGBTQIA+ Community
Inclusive families, schools, churches, and societies can support mental health in the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Family support is important for the well-being of LGBTQIA+ youth: it can reduce their risk for depression, substance use, suicide, and other mental health challenges.
- Social support, including from friends, families, and communities can help LGBTQIA+ people feel loved and accepted.
- Peer support can be a lifeline for LGBTQIA+ people facing mental health issues.
- Support and participate in Kingswood’s Q fellowship.
Mental Health Resources
More than ever, mental health is so important in ALL of our lives. We face each day with more input and information than ever before and it can feel overwhelming without even realizing that it's overwhelming. You don't really know any other way, so this constant bombardment of distractions and information is "normal". We must all find time to take a break, unplug, and seek peace.
Prayer and time with God can be a HUGE gift to our mental health, but it doesn't stop there. God is an amazing provider and gives us many supports and resources to better our mental health. Select each button to check out the following resources for information, support, and ways to get involved.
Prayer and time with God can be a HUGE gift to our mental health, but it doesn't stop there. God is an amazing provider and gives us many supports and resources to better our mental health. Select each button to check out the following resources for information, support, and ways to get involved.