3 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health in the New Year

Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that mental illness is common in the United States, with 23.1% of US adults affected (59.3 million people). These include numerous conditions that vary from mild to moderate to severe.

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health conditions, affecting 13.1% of adolescents and adults and 30% of adults, respectively. This makes it crucial to develop treatments to improve the lives of those living with these conditions.

At the offices of board-certified anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Kullman, our experienced team takes mental health seriously, from adolescence to geriatrics. Dr. Kullman specializes in ketamine infusion therapy, which is proving to be a breakthrough treatment for issues like treatment-resistant depression.

As you move forward into the new year, the team shares many ways for you to prioritize your mental health and move forward with your life.

3 ways you can prioritize your mental health in 2026

Here are three major ways you can improve your mental health.

1. Self-care

Self-care is making an effort to do things that improve both your physical and mental health. The benefits include helping you manage stress, lowering your risk of illness, and increasing your energy.

Tips include:

Get regular exercise

Thirty minutes a day, at least five days a week, can both boost your mood and improve your overall health.

Eat healthy, regular meals

Fruits, veggies, lean protein, whole grains, and drinking plenty of water allow your body to work at peak efficiency and your mind to focus better on tasks.

Improve sleep hygiene

Get seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep, go to bed at the same time each night, and wake up at the same time each morning. Stay away from screens for one to two hours before bed, as blue light interferes with sleep.

Set goals and priorities

Not everything has to be done right now, and trying to do it all leaves you stressed and leads to burnout. Learn to say “no” when it feels like you’re taking on too much.

Practice gratitude and focus on positivity

Remind yourself every day of those things for which you’re grateful. Be specific, and write everything down so you can look at it whenever you need a boost. Challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.

2. Seek out help

There’s nothing shameful about asking for help when you need it, and Dr. Kullman is only a phone call or a computer click away. He specializes in using ketamine to treat a wide range of mental health disorders, and the treatment has been successful in a lot of patients who are good candidates for it.

3. Incorporate behavioral health

At Dr. Kullman’s office, we also offer integration coaching for behavioral health.

Casey Renee Rogers is an experienced Psychedelic Integration Coach and certified Cognitive Behavioral Facilitator, helping you turn your intentions into reality.

Integration builds upon your experiences with ketamine therapy to help you transform unhelpful thought patterns and behavioral issues into positive change. Such integration both increases and prolongs the positive effects of the ketamine treatment. 

Ready to start the new year with better mental health? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kullman. Call our office at 914-465-2882, or visit our website for more options.