We chatted with Dr. Shaakira Haywood Stewart about all things mental health, including expert mental health tips for today’s climate. Read more on her expertise in mental health and how you can apply best practices. Be sure to tune in on our Instagram where Dr. Haywood Stewart will be answering questions like: What is mental health? Why is mental health important? What are best mental health tips and practices?

I am a psychologist in private practice in New York City. I specialize in working with adults around various concerns including (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, family issues, relational issues, grief, and trauma. Within these dynamics, I have a particular focus on working with college students, student-athletes, people of color, LGBTQ, and people from a variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. I also am a professor at the City College of New York teaching both undergraduate and graduate classes on multicultural issues. 

My private practice office is in downtown Manhattan near Union Square. 

My journey was pretty linear. I always knew I wanted to be a doctor or a teacher and realized pretty earlier on that I was not a fan of blood...or biology quite honestly. I had a few classes in high school that introduced me to psychology and human service and I fell in love with the idea of being a psychologist. I left high school knowing that I wanted to be a psychologist and continued on that path with school. I had a few basketball coaches and family members that really encouraged me to go all the way and get my doctorate in psychology. What continued to motivate me was the fact that I never knew any psychologists, yet alone any psychologist of color and wanted to be an example for people. 

Such a great question. I would say that mental health means maintaining mental fitness. I think of our mind in the same way as our body and that in order to have good mental health, we need to continually work at keeping it healthy. We can do this through therapy, gratitude, self-care practices, and taking care of our overall wellness. 

I see my work having the biggest impact in the university setting. Every student I am directly impacting their communities by talking to them about racial injustices, power and privilege. I am an example that they too can earn their degree and impact their family and community around them in positive ways. 

Attitude of gratitude! That is my biggest tip right now. Oftentimes we can be stuck in doom and gloom, especially with so much going on around us. Every morning or night, write down three things you are grateful for. Gratitude helps bring us into the present, and alleviates our thoughts from sinking into the past and the present. Focusing on the past generally leads us to have depressive thoughts, while focusing on the future brings anxiety. Allowing our minds to focus on the present brings in peace. Another tip is mindfulness. A lot of people struggle with meditation and mindfulness but an easy way to incorporate this practice into your everyday life is when you shower. It’s so simple. Take the time to stay present during your shower. Notice the water on your skin, the smell of the water, the texture of your body wash. Noticing all the little things allows you to stay present and brings in peace. 

My self-care routine is simple, but it’s so important. I wake up every morning in prayer and reading a scripture from the bible. I take my vitamins and drink my Wholy Dose Matcha iced over oat milk. I get outside everyday, even if it's just to catch a sunset. Exercising and walking has been super important for me lately in keeping my mood elevated and vitamin D levels high.