Every Tuesday, my school’s Mental Health Club meets to discuss how we can work to improve the student body’s mental health. The club also endeavors to reduce the stigma around asking for, and receiving, help. I love everything that this club stands for and am so happy to be a participant. But, last Tuesday, I was exhausted. I knew I was too tired to make it through a meeting. So I faced a dilemma: go home and take a nap — thus improving my own mental health — or stay at school and work to improve the mental health of others. It was a tough choice but, ultimately, you can’t help others unless you first take care of yourself. That afternoon, I had one of the best naps of my life.
