What do you do to maintain or improve your mental health?

Praying fir self and others is good for mental health

I keep a gratitude journal to help me reflect and record daily blessings.

Three things, daily prayer/mindfulness, daily 50 minute walk five days a week, and interaction with others, as most mental illness from my experience usually is developed and configured around an inability to relate and interact with others. SFC (Ret) Gregory Jones, [login to see]

I maintain a well balanced diet, sleep 7 hours every night, stay happy in my home life and work life, dance in the rain, and laugh heartily at myself when I make a mistake, and laugh with others when the opportunity arises. It keeps me focused and stable.

Not yet back to actually attending church services, but I faithfully attend them virtually via my computer. There always seems to be a special message there to help me through the coming week.

Something I do to help maintain or improve my mental health is volunteer as a youth sports coach on base. It's very rewarding and it makes me feel like I can still contribute to the military community. Something else I do is participate in my local WWP peer support group. I have made good friends. It's just easier to talk to other veterans. Fishing with my son also helps.

For my mental well-being, I play Call of Duty and go to the gun range.....A LOT!

The personal creed that every single person bases his life on is only genuine when it is one he is willing to die for. Our mental state depends upon it. What do we value most in life that we do not merely talk about, but spend our lives pursuing? Once, I had everything, or so I thought. I knew great geniuses in Mathematics and Physics---Noble Prize-winners. I saw wonders in my life few ever realized. But I fell, and crashed, and burned from the highest mountaintop. It was not enough to bring peace into my life. I knew a great millionaire, but he committed suicide. An article cheering on the best mom of the year found herself in prison for improprieties she committed.

The mental state of a man does not come from his outward appearance which boasts great impressions for others to see. It comes from that still, small voice saying, "“This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left."" That comes from the Creator, who gives us a conscience to do what is right, and when we do, there is a "peace that passes all understanding."

I find that when I volunteer and give back it boosts my mental health. It hasn't always been easy to fit in time away from the general busy every day tasks, working, family life etc. However, when I am able, I immediately feel an instant boost even in the smallest of tasks given to me. I also love to craft and donate my projects, I have made various military related items and gifted them to a fabulous organization I have been a member of for many years. Each year they hold a big Gala event and I donate hand made items, such as an American flag made out of small paper roses and on the glass there are either service branches, or other military related silhouettes. It takes me weeks to put these projects together as each rose is hand rolled, but with each one made, I think of things I am grateful for and that brings me much joy.

When all else fails and I need an immediate boost, a walk outside without my head phones in works wonders. Listening to nature around me is wonderful and I always try and walk on paths that lead to or go along side a river. Its peaceful!

Afghanistan Vet here, I usually call my fellow brothers in arms and take some time to catch up with what's going on in their lives, updating one another on family, friends and just over all check-up on life. Aside from that I echo the many great responses I have been reading on here, and volunteer time to help at the D.A.V. charity organization, or pitch in weekends many different ways while volunteering at the local 'till your back on your feet veterans village. Lastly, when i find some of my mental health struggles are piling up, I take a step back and soak in everything I have built in my life for the better. I look at my two wonderful children, I look at my goofy dog, and my aging but beautiful home, and I just take it all in and think of where I would be without them. Sometime reflection is the best therapy.