•  Talk & Listen Openly - Encourage honest conversations about feelings, stress, anxiety, or sadness. Talking openly helps normalize mental-health struggles and lets people               know they’re not alone.
• Recognize Early Signs - Watch for signs like persistent sadness, anxiety, mood swings, withdrawal, sleep disturbances or loss of interest. Early recognition can prompt                 timely support or care.
• Prioritize Self-Care & Healthy Habits - Maintain adequate sleep, balanced diet, physical activity, and downtime. Simple habits like exercise, rest and healthy eating                      support resilience and mental wellness.
• Seek Professional Help When Needed - If problems persist or interfere with daily life, encourage consultation with mental-health professionals (therapists, counsellors).            Support should include access to care, not just awareness.
•  Build Supportive Communities- Create safe, non-judgmental environments among family, friends, workplaces, or community — where people feel comfortable sharing               struggles and seeking support.

Don’t

• Dismiss or Shame Feelings  Avoid calling emotional distress “weakness” or “over-reacting.” Such attitudes perpetuate stigma and silence.
• Ignore Chronic Stress or Burnout Don’t treat persistent stress, fatigue or emotional exhaustion as normal “busyness.” Ignoring them can erode mental health over time.
• Assume One Solution Works for All  Different people have different coping needs. Don’t expect a single approach (e.g. meditation, exercise) to work for everyone.
• Overlook Social or Structural Causes Economic hardship, discrimination, social isolation these broader issues impact mental health. Awareness should include context, not        just individual behaviors.
• Treat Awareness as the End Goal  Awareness is only the first step. True change requires empathy, access to care, supportive policies and a culture that treats mental health       on par with physical health.