Long-term stress can contribute to health problems and increase the risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression. Incorporating stress relief strategies into your daily routine improves your overall mental health and well-being.

When faced with a challenge that brings up strong emotions, you can decrease stress by:

• Talking to others or a professional: When you talk honestly about your problems to a trustworthy individual, they can offer comfort or solutions.
• Taking care of your body: Eating healthy food, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep helps us stabilize our mood and maintain good mental and physical health.
• Avoid addictions to drugs and alcohol: Substance abuse increases feelings of stress and compromises our mental and physical health.
• Connect to a community: Whether spending time with neighbors, family, or a faith-based group, interacting with others can help to decrease feelings of stress and isolation.
• Know when to ask for help: If problems persist or if you are considering suicide, reach out to a professional. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline connects you to free and confidential emotional support in an emotional crisis; the lifeline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply dial 988 or chat online at https://988lifeline.org.

For residents seeking mental health support, the City offers up to $5,000 per household for approved expenses, which may include mental health services related to COVID-19. Learn more about the program and apply at www.collegeparkmd.gov/arpa#resident.

For more information on decreasing stress, please visit:

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health
• Department of Health & Human Services Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion