May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a timely reminder that our mental and emotional well-being is just as important as our physical health. For Oklahomans, this conversation is especially important. According to Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension, our state ranks among the highest in the nation for mental health challenges, with nearly one million residents experiencing mental health or substance-use concern each year.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being—affecting how we think, feel, act, and handle stress. The good news is that improving mental health doesn’t always require major life changes. Often, small, consistent steps can make a meaningful difference.
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