What's Keeping You Mentally Healthy Right Now?
Little 'm,' little 'h'
There’s no definitive state called “mentally healthy” except in our minds. It’s not even defined by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, psychiatry’s manual.
We know what the absence of cancer looks like, the absence of a virus. But the absence of mental illness?
Mental health is wholly individual.
I’m not talking about Mental Health—capital m, capital h. Not mental health in italics.
Just mental health—little m, little h.
No big self-help quiz needed.
Just: What’s working for you right now? What’s keeping you mentally and emotionally healthy?
Mine: Cooking. Taking time to actually sit and eat.
Mind you, as I write this, I failed (failed) to do so today, but it’s a new day!
In this strange time, asking and answering the question, What is mental health for me right now? together in our community here on Substack is more important than ever.
What’s ahead
As you may know, I do something a little different on my Substack each year—a little like Taylor Swift’s Eras but more low key.
In 2025, every fortnight, you’ll receive:
A short video and piece of writing from me answering the question, What is keeping you mentally healthy right now? (Right now because it changes. What made us feel mentally and emotionally healthy last week can feel toxic this week. )
The chance to share your answer and wisdom in the comments and connect with others asking themselves the same question.
Or perhaps a live video (and the written version for you readers) from Substack writers and creators on what’s keeping them mentally healthy, especially around burnout, creativity, connection, and more.
Or an update on the relaunch of Pathological (!) and how I’m using Substack to do it—and how all writers can do the same in the years to come.
Yes! We’re relaunching Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses on June 3rd. I’m working with an amazing branding company, and we have a very good shot at the New York Times bestseller list. We’re going to do it. We’re just going to do it.
Pathological was spotlighted on NPR about a year ago to talk more about the issues with psychiatric diagnoses and how the mental health landscape and the conversation around psychiatric diagnoses has changed with mental health social media influencers and young people diagnosing themselves on Instagram and elsewhere.
I’m a journalist and in Pathological, I wanted to bring to everyone—especially parents and medical residents—the information about psychiatric diagnoses to help us all get the best mental health care. Then I wrapped it in my story of struggling with serious mental illness for twenty-five years. And then I also wrote a love letter to punctuation in there—it’s delightful.
To thank you for being part of my life and my work as a writer, I have a very special gift coming. More on that soon…
Right now, I want to know: What is keeping you mentally healthy at the moment?
Answer and then find others whose response resonates with you and introduce yourself.
Congratulations on the relaunch and yes, let’s manifest that NYT bestsellers list! You’re going to make it happen. Yes you are!
It’s been a combination of things these past three weeks, Sarah, that have helped my mental health: writing what I want and how I want (not outward/audience-focused but inward focused); reading incredible writing here that makes me pause and exhale and connecting with equally incredible authors; creating in community through the No Phone, Just Art 5-minute invitation that concluded on Friday.
More than anything, it’s been about discernment, I guess…choosing what to write, whose words to absorb, who to engage with.
Right now, Substack is where I feel most present, most nourished, most seen. And I think that’s what’s keeping me mentally healthy, in a nutshell.
I am *so excited* too that you're doing this, Sarah! Everyone needs to read Pathological.
This week, two things are keeping me healthy: First, getting outside for a walk, even if it's in the rain and fog here in North Yorkshire, because I've been sitting at my desk too much. And second, writing. Writing just for me, with a pen, in my notebook, letting the words move over the page in whatever way they want to... Love to everyone on this thread. 💜