May is Mental Health Month and we’re joining Mental Health America (MHA) to focus on a simple, shared focus: helping people have more good days, together.  
MHA’s More Good Days, Together campaign is about helping people have more good days by meeting them where they are, supporting each other as whole people, and understanding that “good” is defined by unique and diverse experiences. 
This May, we invite you to join us as we explore ways to create moments of connection, joy, or other things that help you have a "good" day – whatever that looks like for you. 
1. Defining what “good” means to you.  
What does having a “good day” mean to you? 

Good can be defined as a lot of things to a lot of people; happy, productive, calm, comfortable, neutral – or something else entirely. The meaning itself can change as you do, too. Good days might include being able to leave work on time or sitting with friends at lunch. Sometimes, it might mean you were able to get out of bed or make it to class or work at all. 

No matter how you’re feeling at this moment, remember that more good days are possible, help is available, and you are not alone. Think about sharing what you come up with and invite others to think about it as well. 

2. Care for your whole self.  
It’s impossible to try and separate our bodies and minds completely. Our sleep, stress, relationships, nutrition, environment, and other health conditions all impact – and are impacted by – our mental health.  

Things that affect our health aren’t always within our control. Even when we can’t change everything, noticing what we can influence is important for our well-being. Whether it’s finding ways to move that you enjoy, connecting with your peers in school clubs, remembering to drink water, or actually taking a lunch break – small wins matter.
 
When setting goals or trying to build habits, consider prioritizing things that care for both your physical and mental health – or at least identifying how the two might be connected in your daily life. 

3. Work together for more good days. 
Connection and community play an important role in having more good days, together.  

Even small moments of connection – virtual or in person – can help to reduce stress and anxiety and remind us that we’re not the only ones feeling what we’re feeling. You don’t have to carry the weight of “not-so-good” days alone. 

Check in with a friend between classes, colleagues between meetings, or just reach out loved ones to see how they’re doing. Don’t be afraid to ask others if you’re the one in need of encouragement, either.

Working together may also mean looking outside of our immediate circles by caring for our communities through advocacy, volunteering, or creating spaces for people who may not know where else to go. Good change happens with intention 

4. Find your own path. 
Nationally, 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health condition each year – youth follow closely behind at 1 in 5 – and every one of them is learning how to manage their mental health each day. 
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The path to better days is deeply personal, and what works for one person may not work for another. It’s important to explore which practices, treatments, or other supports best fit your unique needs and circumstances. 

If you’re feeling discouraged by not knowing how to have more good days or you know someone else who is, professional help is available at Thrive. To seek out services, call 734-436-4249 to complete a brief screening over the phone or find us at JFSAnnArbor.org/Thrive to complete the online form.

If you are caring for someone living with dementia, you have probably discovered that there is
no single rulebook. Every person brings a lifetime of memories, preferences, and personality to
their experience of the disease. Good care becomes less about following a script and more
about knowing and validating the person in front of you.
Care should be done with someone, not for them. That small shift in language reflects
something important. It is the difference between preserving someone's dignity and quietly
taking it away.

When Someone Repeats Themselves or Forgets
Short-term memory loss is one of the most common symptoms of dementia, and it can be one
of the most emotionally difficult for families to navigate. When a loved one asks the same
question again and again, the instinct to correct is understandable, but it can often add stress
rather than relieving it.
What tends to work better is meeting the person where they are. Familiar routines offer structure
and safety. A simple calendar of upcoming events can help with day-to-day orientation. When
someone repeats a question, try answering calmly each time, sometimes adding something
small and new to the response. When memory loss becomes more advanced, the most
compassionate response is often to enter someone's reality rather than pull them out of it.

When Emotions or Personality Seem to Change
Dementia can bring unexpected shifts in mood, behavior, and personality. For families, watching
those changes unfold can feel like grief. Those feelings are completely valid.
When a person living with dementia becomes frightened, sad, or agitated, their emotions are
real even when the cause is not. Challenging or correcting them rarely helps and can deepen
distress. Instead, try validating what they are feeling with a calm tone, a reassuring word, and a
willingness to sit with them in the moment. This can do more than any explanation. Avoid
arguing, redirect toward an activity they enjoy when the moment allows, and give them room to
express what they are feeling without rushing to fix it.

When Personal Care Becomes Difficult
Hygiene and physical care are areas where dignity is especially easy to overlook. The goal is to
involve the person as much as possible in their own care rather than taking over entirely. Ask
discreetly if they need help rather than assuming. If the person definitely needs help, try to
engage them as a collaborator as much as possible. Use preferred items and familiar routines.
This can make the experience feel less disorienting. Narrating what you are doing in a calm,
matter-of-fact way can also help. Small things like these make care feel collaborative rather than
something being done to someone.

Caring for the Caregiver
None of this is easy, and it cannot be sustained without support. According to the Alzheimer's
Association, more than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for someone living with
dementia. The physical, emotional, and financial toll is significant, and it rarely gets the attention
it deserves.
Being a prepared caregiver means building a support network, having important documents in
order, and taking your own well-being seriously. Know your limits and name them. Accept help
when it is offered. If you are finding it hard to sleep, eat, or think about anything other than
caregiving, that is a sign you need support too, not a sign you are failing.

JFS's CARES program offers up to 48 hours of free in-home respite care for caregivers who
need time to rest, attend to their own needs, or simply recharge. The Alzheimer's Association is
also a strong resource for education, local support groups, and planning guidance.
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You do not have to figure this out alone. Reach out to CARES Manager Roberta Hirshon at
207-233-1051 or [email protected] to learn more about caregiver support services