Spread the word and contact your local media!

 Mental Health America of South Carolina, Mental Health America of the Midlands and NAMI of South Carolina are hosting a SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE MEDIA!

On May 18, 2011, from 11:00 am- 2:00 pm, the MHASC office will be open for the media to participate in Mental Health Media Day.

We will have a panel of speakers including SCDMH Director John Magill, Probate Court Judge Amy McCullough, MHASC Director Joy Jay, NAMI-SC Director Bill Lindsey, SC SHARE Director Bonnie Pate and SC Federation of Families Director Diane Flashnick.

The media in attendance at the event will have the opportunity to hear from each of these leaders in the field and have a time for one-on-one interviews.

Help us make this event a success by contacting your local media and inviting them to come.

For further information, contact Anita T. Baker at MHASC at

  (803)779-5363. Lunch will be provided. 

When you have a mental illness, you may not realize how important your overall health is to your recovery. Having poor overall health can get in the way and make recovery harder. Finding ways to take care of your health can aid your recovery and help you feel better overall. Here are some things you can do:

1. Advocate for yourself.

2. Get the care you need. Get routine check-ups and visit your doctor when you are not feeling well. It may be due to your medicine or a symptom of your mental illness. It could also be a different health problem.

3. Manage stress. Everyone has stress. It is a normal part of life. Stress can make you feel run down. It can also cause your mind to race and make it hard to focus on the things you need to do. Here are some tips to handling stress:

              A. Slow down and take one thing at a time

              B. Know your limits

              C. Practice stress reduction techniques

              D. Know your triggers

              E. Talk to someone

4. Plan your sleep schedule. Sleep can affect your mood and your body and is important to recovery.

5. Watch what you eat. Sometimes medicine can cause you to gain weight. Other times, eating unhealthy foods can cause weight gain. Make healthy decisions when making food choices. Talk to your doctor to learn more about how to have a healthy diet.

6. Exercise. Along with a healthy diet, exercise can improve your health and well-being. Exercising regularly can increase your self-esteem and confidence; reduce your feelings of stress, anxiety and depression; improve your sleep; and help you maintain a healthy weight.

7. Do something you enjoy. During the week, find time- 30 minutes, a couple of hours, or whatever you can fit in- to do something you enjoy. Read a book or magazine, go for a walk or spend time with friends. Taking time for yourself to have fun and laugh can help you relax, ease stress and improve the way you feel.

8. Connect with others. Spending time with positive, loving people you care about and trust can ease stress, help your mood and improve the way you feel overall. They may be family members, close friends, members of a support group or a mental health counselor.