May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme—“Turn Awareness Into Action”—challenges each of us to go beyond conversations and take real steps toward a mentally healthier world.
At A New Tomorrow Therapy, we know that awareness is powerful, but action is transformative. We’ve made great progress in breaking down stigma and opening up the dialogue around mental health. But knowing about mental health challenges isn’t enough—now is the time to act with purpose, compassion, and urgency.
Why Action Matters Now
One in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental health condition each year. And yet, millions still go without the care and support they need. Awareness alone doesn’t change that—but action does.
Turning awareness into action means:
Checking in on friends who’ve gone quiet.
Advocating for mental health policies in schools and workplaces.
Supporting services that increase access to care.
Prioritizing your own mental well-being without apology.
It means we stop waiting for change and start becoming it.
What We’re Doing This Month
What You Can Do
You don’t have to be a therapist or activist to make a difference. Here are 5 small but powerful ways to take action this month:
Speak up. Share your story or talk openly about mental health with others.
Show up. Attend an event, join a support group, or volunteer your time.
Support services. Donate to organizations doing the work, or help someone find care.
Learn more. Take time to educate yourself about mental health conditions and resources.
Take care. Treat your own mental health with the same seriousness as physical health.
This Is Our Moment
We have the knowledge. We have the tools. And now, we have the responsibility to turn that awareness into action. Whether you’re lighting the path for others or seeking your own healing journey, your steps matter.
Mental health is not just a personal issue—it’s a community one. And it starts with each of us choosing to act.
With hope and determination, A New Tomorrow Therapy
Life can often feel overwhelming, especially in a world where information is constantly bombarding us from all directions. This feeling of paralysis in the face of chaos is not just a modern phenomenon but a well-documented psychological response to overwhelming stimuli (LeDoux, 2015). Law enforcement and military professionals are trained to leverage controlled chaos as a tactic, using loud commands, distractions, and noise to disrupt a target’s ability to think clearly and force compliance (Grossman, 2008). However, in our daily lives, we often experience a similar form of mental paralysis when we are confronted with too much information at once. To combat this, I have developed a personal approach that I call my “Sane in the Chaos” plan. This five-step process helps to regain control and focus in an overwhelming world.
Step 1: Make a List
The first step in staying sane amidst the chaos is to make a list of all the topics, events, and demands that are currently overwhelming you. This could include personal obligations, work-related pressures, current news events, or social responsibilities. The goal here is to externalize what is occupying your mental space, allowing you to see everything clearly rather than letting it remain a nebulous source of anxiety (Baumeister & Tierney, 2011). Writing things down can provide clarity and reduce the cognitive load, making it easier to process information effectively.
Step 2: Rank the List by Importance
Once you have your list, the next step is to rank the items in order of importance based on what truly matters to you. This is crucial because not all information holds equal weight, and attempting to absorb and act on everything simultaneously is impossible. Prioritization allows you to focus on the most meaningful aspects of your life and filter out distractions (Covey, 1989). By determining what is most important, you create a roadmap for where to direct your energy and attention.
Step 3: Filter and Focus
With your priorities clearly defined, the next step is to filter the information you consume. Focus only on the top one or two priorities from your ranked list and seek out reliable sources that provide insights into those specific topics. This approach helps to mitigate information overload and ensures that your cognitive resources are being used efficiently (Newport, 2016). Whether it’s limiting social media engagement, subscribing only to essential newsletters, or engaging in conversations that align with your focus, curating your informational intake will make a significant difference in maintaining clarity.
Step 4: Take Action, No Matter How Small
The next step is to take action. Even small actions can create a ripple effect, contributing to positive change in ways that you may not directly witness. Psychological research suggests that taking action, no matter how minor, counteracts feelings of helplessness and builds a sense of agency (Seligman, 2011). Whether it’s making a phone call, signing a petition, supporting a cause, or simply having a meaningful conversation, each action contributes to a greater impact.
Step 5: Find a Positive
In the midst of chaos, it is essential to find something positive to hold onto. For me, that means embracing the spirit of Wonder Woman. My home office is adorned with Wonder Woman memorabilia, serving as a reminder of the power of universal kindness. Her creator, psychologist William Moulton Marston, integrated his research on human behavior into her character’s ideologies, emphasizing the importance of empathy, strength, and justice (Lepore, 2014). To bring this principle into my daily life, I identify a “Wonder Woman of the Week”—a woman making a positive difference in the world—and, when possible, I send a note of appreciation. This small act of gratitude helps shift my focus from chaos to hope.
Conclusion
If everyone were to practice these five principles in the spirit of universal kindness, we could all better manage the intentional chaos that surrounds us. By making a list, prioritizing, filtering information, taking action, and finding something positive, we can regain control and create meaningful change in our lives and the world around us. In times of turbulence, clarity and kindness can serve as powerful antidotes to the confusion that others may try to create.
References
Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. Penguin.
Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Free Press.
Grossman, D. (2008). On combat: The psychology and physiology of deadly conflict in war and in peace. Warrior Science Publications.
LeDoux, J. (2015). Anxious: Using the brain to understand and treat fear and anxiety. Viking.
Lepore, J. (2014). The secret history of Wonder Woman. Knopf.
Newport, C. (2016). Deep work: Rules for focused success in a distracted world. Grand Central Publishing. Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.
As a child on the playground, I always loved playing on the monkey bars. The feeling of swinging from one rung to the next with ease and agility was exhilarating. Recently, while talking with a client, I realized that life is like swinging across monkey bars – each rung representing a different milestone or goal we are striving for. And just as in the playground, there are moments when we successfully swing from one rung to the next without any troubles, feeling confident and capable. But there are also times when we slip, our grasp loosens, and we find ourselves hanging precariously in mid-air.
We start off with both hands gripping tightly onto the first bar, unsure of how to reach the next one that seems so far away. We may kick our legs or swing back and forth to gather enough momentum to propel us forward. If we’re lucky, there may be an older child on the playground who can show us how it’s done, and our parents are there to catch us if we fall, providing us with a sense of safety and support. They stand by us, encouraging our successes and cheering us on.
The scariest part is counterintuitive – to move forward, we must let go and trust ourselves to grab onto the next rung. One hand reaching back for stability while the other reaches forward towards progress. It can feel like we’re stuck in one spot, swinging back and forth until we finally let go of the past and reach for what’s ahead. Sometimes it takes a few tries before we finally get a firm grip on the next rung.
It’s true that in order to move forward in life, we must let go of the things holding us back – negative beliefs, unhelpful thoughts, past hurts and wounds. But often, the fear of letting go is paralyzing. Perhaps you didn’t have someone there to help guide you through this journey across the monkey bars. Maybe you felt alone on the playground, struggling to find your way.
But here’s the thing – we are all born with the innate ability to successfully make it across that horizontal ladder. The path may look different for each of us, some may seem more graceful while others struggle and fall often before reaching their goal. But we must remember that we are not alone. Along the way, we will encounter helpers – friends, partners, therapists, coaches, and others who can support us, teach us new techniques, and pick us up when we fall. None of us can make it across alone.
So don’t be afraid to let go in order to move forward. Release those bars behind you, they served their purpose for a time but now they’re holding you back from reaching your end goal. Seek out help and guidance along the way and trust in yourself to grab onto the next bar.
You can do it – let go and swing towards progress with confidence and determination.
A New Tomorrow Therapy 