Health Watch: mental health mindfulness

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Foundation Health Partners is doing its part to help.

About one in five American adults have experienced or are experiencing a mental health issue.

If not treated properly, the consequences could be dire. Dr. Rebekah Burket, a local clinical psychologist with Foundation Health Partners says mindfulness can do much to combat mental health issues. “Just check in with yourself and notice yourself because when we get stressed or we go through dark and cold or stressful life experiences, anything we can do to connect with ourselves - like checking in emotionally, checking in with our breath - that helps us notice what we need to do to take good care.”

Whether its tennis or dancing, painting or bracelet-making, Dr. Burket says pursuing one physical and one creative outlet will promote better mental wellness. “The two broad categories are like a physical outlet and a creative outlet,” she explained. “People will be drawn to different things but in general people who have mental health resilience, even when there’s tough times, it starts with mindfulness - like paying attention to what our body is trying to tell us.”

Dr. Burket says the first and easiest step toward mental wellness is to go outside and soak up some sunshine, while making sure to invest in some black out curtains to get the proper amount of sleep during this up and coming sunny summer season. She added, “Remember to drink water and get some sunlight because we are basically house plants with more complicated feelings.”