Mental Health Tips for Men - Mental Health - Men's Health

Tips for staying mentally healthy are not as straightforward as those for maintaining good physical health. After all there aren't any "mental fitness gyms" to join. But keeping mentally fit is still in your control. Here's the way to do it.

Connect with other people. Find people that you can confide in. Reach out to your wife or partner, your siblings, and your children.
Get involved. Develop some hobbies and interests separate from your work. If you don't have any, think about things that you used to like doing when you were younger.
Exercise. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exercise can combat depression and other forms of mental illness. Exercise affects some of the same chemicals in the brain the way Prozac does, so it can really help with depression and anxiety.
Evaluate your life. Making an effort to evaluate your life along the way can help prevent problems from becoming crises. Are you happy in your job and relationships? Is there anything that you can do to improve the way you live?
Consider getting help. Look at therapy as a source of potential tools with which to deal with life. Don't necessarily give into a knee-jerk reaction against medication. Shop around for someone that you click with.

American Psychiatric Association
1400 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Toll-free: 1-888-357-7924
Fax: 202-682-6850
E-Mail: apa@psych.org
www.psych.org

American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Toll-free: 1-888-357-7924
Fax: 202-336-5500
www.apa.org

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: 703-524-7600
Toll-free: 1-800-950-6264
Fax: 703-524-9094
TTY: 703-516-7227

National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd.
Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Phone: 301-443-4513
www.nimh.gov

National Mental Health Association 1021 Prince St.
Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
Phone: 703-684-7722
Toll-free: 1-800-969-6642
Fax: 703-684-5968
TTY: 1-800-433-5959
www.nmnha.org