In today’s fast-paced world, we often forget to take a step back and check in with ourselves. Teal Day is a special reminder to prioritise mental health and embrace self-care. Teal day is celebrated during April as a part of Counselling awareness month, to recognise the  importance of counselling in fostering well-being. Whether you’re a mental health professional, a caregiver, or simply someone navigating life’s challenges, this day serves as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge.

The Significance of Teal Day

Teal is a colour associated with calmness, emotional healing, and self-awareness—qualities that align perfectly with the essence of counselling and self-care. Observing Teal Day is about acknowledging the importance of mental wellbeing, reducing stigma around seeking support, advocating for the counselling profession, celebrating the importance of empathy for mental health, recognising the work of counsellors and encouraging proactive self-care practices. Research shows that colors like teal can have a calming psychological effect, reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation (Kaya & Epps, 2004).

Counselling: A Path to Growth and Healing

Counselling provides a safe space for individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and challenges without judgment. Whether dealing with stress, anxiety, traumatic events, or life transitions, speaking to a professional can offer clarity and coping strategies. On Teal Day, we recognise the invaluable role counsellors play in guiding individuals toward resilience and self-discovery.

The Power of Self-Care

Self-care is an essential practice for maintaining mental, physical and emotional health. Engaging in regular self-care helps prevent burnout, enhances resilience, and fosters a healthier mindset. Research suggests that individuals who prioritise self-care experience lower levels of stress, improved emotional regulation, and a greater overall sense of well-being (Smith et al., 2020).This Teal Day, consider incorporating self-care activities such as:

• Mindfulness and Meditation: Mindfulness involves bringing your awareness to the present moment without judgement, this can be done through deep breathing exercises, listening to guided meditations on apps like Headspace or doing  progressive muscle relaxation to notice stress in the body and relieve tension.
• Journaling: Engaging in journaling practices can assist with processing and releasing emotions as well as clarifying thoughts. This could involve writing down things you are grateful for.
• Physical Movement: Exercise is a natural stress reliever as physical activity boosts endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers. This can involve a 10 minute nature walk, stretching or dancing for instance.
• Rest and recovery: Quality sleep is essential for emotional regulation and overall wellbeing
• Creative expression: Engage in activities that are therapeutic and fulfilling, creative hobbies can improve both mood and cognitive flexibility for example colouring, listening to music or playing an instrument. 
• Connecting with Loved Ones: Social support is a key factor in emotional resilience and overall mental health. It can be helpful to call a friend or family member to chat or organise a catch up. 
• Seeking Professional Help: Therapy and counselling can provide essential tools to manage stress and build emotional strength 

How to Participate in Teal Day

• Wear Teal: Show solidarity for mental health awareness by wearing teal and sparking conversations about self-care and counselling.
• Share Your Story: Open up about your self-care journey or how counselling has helped you, inspiring others to seek support.
• Prioritise Yourself: Dedicate time for self-care and encourage others to do the same.

Teal Day is a powerful reminder that mental health matters. By taking time to nurture our well-being and encouraging open discussions about counselling, we create a culture where self-care is not an afterthought but a priority. Let’s embrace Teal Day as a commitment to ourselves and each other—because mental wellness is something we all deserve.

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). The effectiveness of psychotherapy: 50 years of progress and practice.

Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., … & Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230-241.

Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357.

Craft, L. L., & Perna, F. M. (2004). The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(3), 104-111.

Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Weitz, E., Andersson, G., Hollon, S. D., & van Straten, A. (2016). The effects of psychotherapies for major depression in adults on remission, recovery and improvement: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 202, 511-519.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144-156.

Kaya, N., & Epps, H. H. (2004). Relationship between color and emotion: A study of college students. College Student Journal, 38(3), 396-405.

Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening up by writing it down: How expressive writing improves health and eases emotional pain. Guilford Publications.