May is Mental Health Month, and Human Support Services stresses that good overall health involves caring for the mind as well as the body.

Mental health is the ability to cope with the challenges of daily life. An individual with good mental health is able to cope with these daily challenges in healthy ways, whereas an individual with poor mental health might feel overwhelmed by daily life.

Having poor mental health can contribute to physical problems such as high blood pressure, weight gain, headaches, and sleep disturbances. It can also exacerbate existing mental health and substance abuse conditions, including depression, anxiety, and alcohol or drug abuse.

There are steps you can take to improve mental health — building a healthy support network, recognizing the signs of stress, and knowing when to reach out for help are positive ways to improve one’s mental health.

For those in need of help, the professional counseling team at HSS is available to assist in developing positive mental health.

The mission of HSS is to provide high quality, comprehensive services to Monroe County residents with mental health or substance needs, or developmental disabilities.

For further information, call 939-4444, visit www.hss1.org, or become a friend on Facebook.