Make a Game Plan

Being your best isn’t just about taking care of your body; it’s about taking care of your mind and mental health.

Collage of athletes from various sports leagues and organizations

Find what works for you

Learn ways to handle stress, anxiety, or whatever else comes up. Find the resources you need to keep your mental health a priority.

If you're looking for resources for teens, click here.

Activity

Keep a routine that involves self-care

For:: Burnout ,; Sadness ,; Chronic health issues & disabilities ,; Workplace issues & unemployment ,; Relationship issues & breakups

Sticking to a daily routine that includes self care can help things feel more stable and prevent against depression. Aim to eat and sleep at regular times, and make time for walks or exercise. Mental health is important too, so make time for seeing others and consider practicing meditation or deep breathing.

Activity

Take care of your physical health

For:: Anger ,; Burnout ,; Grief & loss

Taking care of your body is not only good for your heart and your brain—it also equips you to better deal with emotional challenges. Taking a daily walk or doing some type of physical activity, drinking lots of water, and getting enough sleep are all great steps you can take to maximize your help and minimize the risk (or lessen the negative impact) of larger health issues.

Watch • 1:51

Picture yourself at the top of your game

For:: Burnout ,; Worry ,; Workplace issues & unemployment ,; Sadness

Be like Mike. He credits tapping in to the power of his mind—visualizing himself winning—to helping him become a master of basketball. And it’s is something you can try too. What’s the equivalent to making a basket, or winning a championship trophy in your life? If you picture yourself achieving this in your mind, your brain actually does the work to create a new neural pathway. In non-science speak, this means when you visualize something vividly, and repeatedly, the brain feels like you’ve actually done the thing you’ve imagined. So when the situation arises in real life, you can be calm in the moment and worry a little less about how to do the thing because you’ve already experienced it your mind.

View more things to try

Resources

Online directory | Support group
Find Support Groups | Mental Health America
Mental Health America offers a list of online and in-person support groups for different communities, mental health conditions, and life challenges.

Family conflict, Grief & loss, Non-substance addiction, Trauma, Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), For a loved one, Therapy, Addiction, Schizophrenia, For parents, Eating disorders, Postpartum Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Depression, Suicide, For men, For caregivers, Crisis support, For LGBTQ+ folks, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), For veterans, For folks with disabilities, For older folks, For survivors of trauma, assault or violence, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Gambling addiction, Sex addiction, For families, Virtual support group, In-person support group
Website
Man Therapy
Man Therapy® was created by a multidisciplinary team of suicidologists, mental health experts, marketing strategists, and creatives to make mental health approachable by using humor to break stigma and help men take action with tools and resources.

Anger, Grief & loss, Trauma, Depression, Suicide, For men
Online directory
FindTreatment.gov
A confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories.

Trauma, Non-substance addiction, Therapy, Addiction, Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Eating disorders, Postpartum Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, Depression, Suicide, Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Online interactive tool(s)
Where to get help | Mental Health America
Mental Health America offers a "Where to Get Help" interactive tool to recommend locating mental health support resources based on your needs.

Trauma, Therapy