September is national suicide prevention month, which honors two kinds of people: the alive and the dead. Those who were taken from us in the war of mental health, and the ones who have fought it, and are still standing today.

The scars of their challenges are their tattoos of bravery and strength that illuminate the light for us to learn from. I am writing this article, to personally share how I have overcome and continue to fight with my challenges, and how I have learned these things from people who have fought in mental battles that I can't imagine, but are here to help those like you and me overcome what we are faced with.

1) Build a Strong Support System

When building a support system, it doesn't necessarily have to be a lot of people. Having one or two people of quality who are willing to listen to you when you need it can take off a lot of the weight on yourself. However, it is important to know when you need to refer to professional help. It is important to consider how severe your situation is, and when is the right time to receive help that will be more effective for you.

Personally, my support system is my older sister, who is able to see right through me and can direct me. This is a great way for me to take off the unnecessary load of stress I get from my academics and school. Sometimes, we have a lot on our minds that we don't realize as it slowly flows into our subconscious, so it is important to clean our heads out by putting into words what we feel.

Photo credits: Nabiha Khan

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2) Listening to Podcasts

I haven't heard a lot of people talk about this one, but it’s genuinely one of the most underrated ways to cope with your emotions. Oftentimes, we feel isolated with our struggles, and when it seems like the people around us just “don’t understand,” it can lead to even more negative feelings. Podcasts can help fill that gap because they remind you that you’re not alone. When you find yourself surrounded by overwhelming thoughts, listening to others share their stories or advice can feel like having a conversation with a friend who gets it.

Personally, I love influencers like Lumma Aziz, who talks about mental health and navigating tough emotions in a way that feels really real and relatable. The best part is that there are podcasts on almost every topic, whether it’s self-growth, faith, positivity, or even just lighthearted shows that make you laugh. Exploring different voices on Spotify or YouTube lets you find the people who click with you and help you see your situation in a new way. Sometimes just hearing someone else put into words what you’ve been feeling can be the reminder you need to keep going and stay hopeful.

3) Do Everything That Makes You Happy

By all means, of course, this article was written to help you find happiness. But, if it means harming you or someone else, of course not. But there are so many things you can discover about yourself when you feel upset.

If you spend your life trying to desperately search for an outlook, I hate to burst your bubble, but you won't. Sometimes, it can be the smallest things, like just taking a walk with your pet or eating your favorite snack. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, but trust me, these things add up! Whenever I feel down, I like to FaceTime my best friends, and suddenly the world feels like it's flipped back upright. Or, I love to do things like write articles about things I am passionate about that make me feel like I am productive and entertained at the same time! It is things like this that make up your days, and if you just try to live in the present, you will fall right into place.

4) Try a New Exercise

Exercising, stretching, and being athletic are not for everyone. But would a 5-minute workout on YouTube really be that hard? Influencers like Bailey Brown post 5-10 minute effective workouts on platforms like YouTube and TikTok that ACTUALLY work!

Although it's for a short time, it works very well. Along with making you feel better, these short exercises can make you feel more productive and can overall positively impact your day.

I have followed Bailey Brown over the course of a couple of years now, and I love her new pilates videos, along with her old ones. Overall, you should let the small things add up to make bigger things in your life. If you can prove to yourself that you can do something this small, then you are capable of doing so much more!

5) Adopt a New Pet

Adopting a pet can be one of the best ways to bring more joy and comfort into your life. Pets don’t just keep you company; they give you unconditional love, which can make a huge difference when you’re feeling lonely or sad. Studies even show that spending time with animals lowers stress and can help with feelings of anxiety or depression.

For me, my cat Tiger is that comfort. No matter how hard my day has been, just sitting with him or hearing him purr instantly makes me feel calmer. Having a pet gives you something to care for and look forward to, and sometimes that little routine of feeding them, playing with them, or even just being near them, can bring a sense of purpose that’s really important when life feels heavy.

Photo credits: Nabiha Khan

6) Just Be Present

This might be easier said than done for people, but truly, being present in the moment can have a large effect on how you view your day-to-day life. Sometimes, we can feel so down in our emotions that we forget about the good we have around us, too. Believe me, even if it might feel dark all around you, it can be up to you to be that light for yourself along the way. Try to make the most of every moment and live with as much happiness as you can.

We tend to forget about how lucky we are to even be sitting here and reading this article today. As soon as you fill your days with gratitude, and you replace the negatives with positives as much as you can, you will find yourself so much happier, even if you are in the same place as yesterday. Just remember, you are never alone, in this huge world, you have so many reserved seats at tables you don't even know you will be at one day. Live today for the ones we are remembering this month, and keep going, you are capable and have got this!

Photo credits: Nabiha Khan