Discover the impact of daily habits on mental well-being and explore practical solutions to support mental health
The belief that small habit changes don’t have a tangible impact on mental health is a myth, said Ember Christensen, a physician from BYU–Hawaii’s Health Center. While one small habit might not solve serious mental health challenges, she said changing habits is worth it because the habits of an individual make up their character and determine their direction in life, for better or worse. “The small things we do each day determine where we’ll be and what we’ll be doing 10-20 years from now,” she said.
One practical habit every student should try to support their mental well-being is having a daily prayer, Christensen emphasized. “Prayer centers us on Jesus Christ, our Creator, who knows and understands us perfectly. If we can keep ourselves centered on Christ, our daily challenges will seem smaller, and we’ll have the strength and focus to overcome each challenge,” she said.
For those who feel too busy or overwhelmed to prioritize their mental health, Christensen shared the teaching of the Prophet Russell M. Nelson. The Prophet said caring for our spiritual health is as important as eating food to care for our physical body. “Just like we need to eat regularly, we need to take care of our spirits and minds each day,” she said.
Christensen encouraged students to reach out to Counseling Services if they want to take better care of their mental health but don’t know where to start. “Our Counseling Center on campus has amazing therapists with a range of experience and expertise. I would start there,” she said. She explained each counselor is well-qualified to help students and will refer them to the Health Center when medical intervention is needed.
The infographic below presents simple, effective and attainable habits experts say can support a person’s mental health.
