Prioritizing Mental Health

On that note, my next question is, what kind of support or guidance would be helpful from healthcare professionals at this time of the year? Think practical, emotional, you have alluded to season planning, but please. Yeah, I mean, I think something that I really wish is that providers did a better job checking in about mental health in the fall. I think that's something like, you know, we talk a lot about physical health and what that means and looks like. And there's also the mental health component, which naturally many people feel in with the longer nights and it's darker for longer and all of that in the fall and starting into winter time. So I feel like that's a really great time for providers to be more proactive. And, you know, again, even if it's not my annual checkup time and I'm not coming into the office, maybe having that communication or even just like an informational text message that's like, hey, did you know that this many people notice their mood changes in the fall? You know, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Give us a call if you need anything, you know, again, just feeling like somebody cares about me, somebody is checking in with me and providing that education for then the people that are like, Oh, no, I didn't realize that that was something that happens. And you know what, my mood has been kind of crappy as it's gotten colder and darker. And, you know, I really, you know, if you want to reach out and say something, it just it opens the door and it invites that conversation. And I do think, like I said, mental health gets overlooked and I think the way that we talk about mental health in our area is unfortunate. We tend to, you know, go to a provider office and they say, oh, you're not feeling depressed, are you? Well, what person's going to say, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, when that's how it's asked. So I think some of it is the way that we talk about these things, how we ask questions, and how we show up for patients and show that we care. So I definitely think that's something that would be really great to have some kind of check in, you know, around the mental health components as well, especially as the seasons are shifting. Very important mental health component during the fall. Thank you very much. So if you were encouraging someone else to prioritize their health in fall, what advice would you give them. Drawing your own insights or lived experiences. Yeah, I think for me, advice that I would give to people are, you know, enjoy, like, still try to find time to go out and enjoy the way that our earth is changing. Like, enjoy, take the time to, like, stop and look at the colors and see what's going on in the fall and still be present and grounded, even though, yeah, it's getting colder, yes, things are changing, you know, being able to appreciate still the beauty and those sites, I think can be a really nice mood boost in addition to still getting you out and about, um, you know, and, and keeping activity up and, you know, fall other things are in season. And so being able to, you know, make some healthy like meal planning around, okay. What's in season now that it's fall. Um, and really kind of embracing things that are coming in and out of season as as the seasons change to really help with that, pre-plating and meal prep and sticking to some healthy eating or experimenting with different things. Like I think, you know, not being afraid to still get out and about just because it's getting a little bit colder. And again, like I think it goes back to me, I think I'll say this every season, but just the accountability and like having somebody that's there with you. And yeah, it is harder because it's getting colder, having that validation and knowing like it's harder and we can do hard things. And having somebody that's there to say that to you and with you, I think makes a huge.