May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time for us to slow down, check in with ourselves, and take care of our minds and bodies. Many people deal with stress, sadness, anxiety, or loneliness. Some people may also be grieving the loss of a loved one or feeling overwhelmed while caring for elderly parents or family members. During difficult times, some people turn to smoking or vaping to cope. But there are healthier ways to manage stress—and support is available.
At The SOL Project, we believe everyone deserves to live in a safe and peaceful home with clean air. Smoke-free housing in apartments, duplexes, and condos helps protect families from secondhand smoke and harmful tobacco exposure. Clean air supports both physical and mental wellness.
Our work advocating for smoke-free housing and smoke-free outdoor spaces is about protecting children, seniors, pets, and neighbors from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Learn more here:
👉 Smoke-Free Housing
👉 Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas
Research highlighted by Behavioral Health News and the New England Journal of Medicine shows smoking can actually increase stress, anxiety, and depression over time, especially for people already dealing with mental health challenges.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy coping strategies can include walking, exercising, praying, journaling, listening to music, spending time outdoors, and staying connected with family and friends. The CDC also encourages people to take breaks from social media and negative news that may increase stress and anxiety.
It is also important to remember that asking for help is a sign of strength. If stress, grief, anxiety, or depression begins affecting your daily life, it may help to speak with your doctor or connect with a therapist or counselor.
As Community Engagement Coordinator for The SOL Project, I also believe in sharing personal ways to manage stress and protect mental wellness.
“How I address my mental health, especially when it comes to dealing with stress, is making sure I get to the gym for cardio and weight training at least three days a week. I also recently started back line dancing once a week, and I absolutely love it. Honestly, it’s not really a class—it’s more like a ‘line dance social par-tay with a sprinkle of class instruction!’ It’s a fun, high-energy workout that helps me recharge mentally, emotionally, and physically.
I encourage friends and family to find the exercise routine or wellness activity that works best for them because everybody’s journey is different. That could be water aerobics, walking through the neighborhood, Pilates, cycling, yoga, dancing, or simply getting outside and moving more.
And let me be honest—we also have to release ourselves from endless hours scrolling TikTok and Instagram videos (GUILTY 🙋🏽♀️), binge-watching Netflix and Hulu (also GUILTY 🙋🏽♀️), or constantly watching negative news stories about crime and disasters. Too much of that can leave us mentally drained, anxious, withdrawn, and fatigued. Sometimes we truly need to unplug, move our bodies, laugh, connect with people, and pour back into ourselves,” shared Pleshette Robertson of The SOL Project.
Faith-based communities also play an important role in supporting mental wellness. Churches and community groups often provide encouragement, hope, and trusted support for families going through difficult times.
Mental Health Awareness Month, recognized by organizations like National Alliance on Mental Illness, reminds us that it is okay to ask for help and support.
We also encourage the community to attend an upcoming virtual event hosted by one of our community partners, the California Black Health Network:
Hidden Crises—Stress, Mental Health & Brain Health in the Black Community
🗓️ May 13, 2026
👉 Register Here
If you or someone you love is thinking about quitting smoking or vaping, free help is available through Kick It California. Visit KickItCA.org, call 1-800-300-8086, or text QUIT to 66819 for support from trained quit coaches.
Mental health matters. At The SOL Project, we are committed to helping families build healthier, smoke-free futures together.
