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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The Connection Between Mental Health & Recovery
- Anxiety can drive avoidance, control, or relapse behaviors.
- Depression can drain motivation, energy, and hope.
- Both can distort thinking (negative self-talk, shame, all-or-nothing thinking).

Breaking Stigma
-Misconception: “If I just had more faith, I wouldn’t feel this way.”
-Mental health struggles are not a sign of weak faith or failure.

Practical Tools
-Focus on simple, realistic, repeatable tools—not perfection.
Examples:
-Staying connected (calls, meetings, accountability)
-Movement (walking, exercise—even short)
-Structure/routine
-Challenging negative thoughts
-Sleep and nutrition basics
-Prayer/meditation/journaling
-Professional help (therapy, medication when appropriate)

Warning Signs & Self-Awareness
-Early awareness can prevent deeper setbacks.

Support Systems & Asking for Help
-Isolation is one of the biggest risks in both mental health struggles and recovery.

Hope & Encouragement
-There is HOPE!

Leader Focused Question for Open Share
“What’s one small thing you can do this week to support your mental health in recovery?”