April is Mental Health Awareness Month! Plus, learn how to optimize your doctor's visits!

PatientsLikeMe Newsletter | See what's up May 2021 Newsletter May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? It began in the United States in 1949 and was started by Mental Health America (MHA). This month aims to center mental illness by educating the public about the realities of living with these conditions, drawing attention to potential suicide, and reducing stigma. To learn more about how you can recognize, uplift, and celebrate this important mission, click the yellow button below! [Learn more]() Check out PLM in the news! Tune in to the Empowered Patient Podcast Recently, our Senior Medical Advisor Dr. Kate Burke and patient advocate/leader Jed were featured on the Empowered Patient Podcast to talk about PatientsLikeMe and how we help patients with rare diseases take charge of their health and assist life science organizations to better understand patient needs. Click the yellow button below to listen to their full conversation! [Listen here]( Feel like your doctor's visits are too short? Here's how to optimize your visits! We all know that our time at the doctor's office is incredibly valuable but sadly limited. So, how can we make the most of our visit in order to ask all the questions we have and bring up any new symptoms we're nervous about? Click the yellow button below to read through some tips about how to make the best use of your time during an appointment! [Read more]() Has your doctor offered you the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial during your visit? Here at PatientsLikeMe, we're interested to learn more about the experiences of our members. We want to know: has your doctor offered you the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial during your visit? The survey is only one yes or no question, and we would love to hear your response. Get started and add your voice today by clicking the yellow button below! [Take the survey]( Learn from others in the community How has your health impacted your romantic relationships? It can be difficult to talk about your health, especially when you have just met someone or if you’re out on a date. You may struggle to find the ‘right time’ to talk about your health or how to introduce the topic. Some people choose to be upfront right away about their health, while for others, this discussion is saved for later when the relationship is more established. How did you initially discuss your health conditions with your partner? Click the yellow button below to join the conversation! [Join the conversation]() What mindfulness techniques have you tried? Spiritual practice can be helpful for maintaining your emotional wellbeing and coping with chronic pain, but it may not be for everyone. Mindfulness techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises can actually be just as beneficial. Researchers have found that because pain involves both the mind and the body, mind-body therapies and stress management can help reduce pain by changing the way you perceive it. What mindfulness techniques have you tried? Click the yellow button below and share your experiences! [Share your experiences]() Get our app to connect with PatientsLikeMe anytime, anywhere. [apple app store]([google play]( [facebook]([twitter]([linked in]([youtube]([instagram]( You told us you'd like to receive emails relevant to you and your health. You can change your [email preferences]( at any time. © 2005-2020 PatientsLikeMe. All Rights Reserved. Information on [PatientsLikeMe.com]() is reported by our members and is not medical advice. Not interested anymore? No problem. You can [unsubscribe]( in just a few clicks. This email was sent by: PatientsLikeMe, LLC 6 Liberty Square, Suite 2602 Boston, MA, 02109, USA