How to Build a Mental Health Toolkit

Mental Health Toolkits are things that we can put in place to alleviate our symptoms when our anxiety rises. These toolkits are easy to put together, and easy to share with friends and family as a backup for when things get too much.

These toolkits come in many forms, such as:

1. Physical Toolkits: These toolkits work best when you need an immediate release for, and distraction from, the anxiety you’re experiencing. These kits can include sensory aids, such as fidget toys, herbal remedies, headphones, and hydration and snacks.
2. Emotional Support Toolkits: These are best for when you need some downtime, and time to regulate how you’re feeling. These toolkits can include items such as: journals, affirmation cards, self-help books, comforting objects, and relaxation audio.
3. General-purpose Toolkit: This type of toolkit is for more general use, and should include things such as you contact list, breathing exercises, guided worksheets, and coping strategies.
4. Travel Toolkit: It’s great to have a toolkit that is portable and that can be used when you’re on the go. Toolkits like this can include things such as: headphones, contact lists/emergency numbers, relaxation audio, distraction games, and hydration and snacks.
5. Emergency Anxiety Toolkit: This toolkit should be used when everything just gets too much. These toolkits should contain the following essential items: emergency medications, contact list/emergency numbers, sensory stimulation items, coping strategies, and guided worksheets or audio.

These toolkits are great to have on hand in case of emergency, or just as something you can fallback on if it all gets a bit much.

Fortunately, toolkits like these also offer a great buffer for panic attacks. Simply by having these toolkits in place, our anxiety can only get so far before we have the means to overcome it.

Have you ever utilised a mental health toolkit before? If not, I encourage you to start.

Beat your anxiety by getting ahead.