May is Mental Health Awareness Month, first recognized in 1949 to encourage understanding and reduce stigma around mental health. This year’s theme from Mental Health America (“More Good Days, Together”) offers a moment to reflect on how everyday support, awareness, and connection shape well-being over time.
A “good day” does not mean a perfect one. For many people, it simply means a day that feels steadier, more supported, or less heavy.
A Global Picture
Mental health is a shared human experience across every region of the world. The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition. Anxiety and depression are the most common, and mental health conditions rank among the leading causes of disability globally.
Access to care and resources varies widely by country and community. Many people navigate mental health challenges while working, caregiving, or managing significant life transitions. Changes such as relocation can introduce new environments, disrupted routines, and distance from familiar support systems, all of which can affect emotional well-being. These experiences are far more common than they often appear.
An Employee Perspective
We asked Bristol Senior Director of Proposals and Communications Kirk Gipson what “more good days” has come to mean to him over time.
A couple of years ago, everything in my life suddenly shifted over a brief period. My marriage was ending, and along with the stress and sadness of the pending divorce came the need to sell a house, find a new home, and learn to co-parent. As if this weren’t enough to deal with, I decided to change jobs after almost a decade with my previous employer. The months that followed these initial decisions led to continued shifts and adaptation to constant change. Somewhere in all of it, I lost myself to anxiety. There weren’t any truly “good days,” just days that felt like I could breathe a little better than others. I felt lost, alone, and smothered by the basics of life.
I can’t tell you the exact tipping point, but one morning I realized something had to change. I’d had a weird aversion to therapy for a long time, but I decided I needed help, that I couldn’t get through this without help. I found a therapist around the corner from my house because I knew I was unlikely to stick with something that required me to drive any real distance. Over the next few months, I learned meditation and breathing techniques to help me move beyond immediate feelings of dread and helplessness. As I continued with the sessions over the next year, those anxious feelings diminished as I learned more about what triggered them and how I could effectively manage them.
Now, that’s not to say these feelings are gone, and I’m “fixed.” There’s no easy solution to the things our brains do to us. But I no longer find myself wrapped up in worry and anxiousness the way I did before. Some days are better than others, but they’re mostly “good days” with a few “bad moments” sprinkled in. I’ve learned that self-care doesn’t mean cookies and long baths (or whatever your relaxation/creature comforts are); it means treating yourself with grace, love, and forgiveness, respecting that your brain needs its own very special care. It’s ok to seek professional help; there’s no stigma in doing so.
A Small Reflection to Try
Personal reflections can help remind others that progress often unfolds gradually.
A brief prompt to consider this month:
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Think about a recent day that felt slightly better than others
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Identify one moment, habit, or interaction that supported that feeling
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Hold onto it by writing it down or simply noticing it more often
Small awareness practices can offer insight during busy or transitional periods.
Mental Health Resources, Wherever You Go
Mental health support includes education, tools, professional care, and community-based resources. Below are organizations that offer information, navigation, and ongoing mental health support.
United States
Mental Health America
https://www.mhanational.org
National Alliance on Mental Alliance
https://www.nami.org/
Canada
Canadian Mental Health Association
https://cmha.ca
Wellness Together Canada
https://www.wellnesstogether.ca
Europe
Mind (UK and England)
https://www.mind.org.uk
Mental Health Europe
https://www.mhe-sme.org
Asia
Asia Pacific Mental Health Association
https://apmha.org
Global
World Health Organization, Mental Health
https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health
Mental Health Awareness Month encourages reflection and connection. “More good days” begins with knowing support exists and recognizing that no one navigates change alone.
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