It's rare to find someone who hasn't been touched in some way by mental illness. Unfortunately, stigmas surrounding mental illness continue to exist. While May is technically Mental Health Month, it is always a good time to open up a dialogue about mental health. Below are ten simple ways to create and nurture an empathic environment that puts an end to mental health stigmas. Join me and my Hundred Acre Wood friends as crusaders for mental health. Because being mindful and kind is groovy.

1. Stop engaging in dialogues of "fine-ness" or "good-ness."

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks!"

Often this exchange is given as both speakers are quickly passing by each other. If we really care about the answer, we should stop and hold a meaningful conversation. We also need to let others know that the answer does not have to be in the positive. It's okay to not be "fine" or "good."

2. Stop being self-absorbed.

Step away from social media now and then. This artificial culture of 'likes' encourages self-consciousness and superficiality. Post things that mean something to you. Then walk away. Don't wait to see the flood, or trickle, of 'likes' coming in. Go out and interact with the real world.

3. Stop the dark jokes.

Stop the "I'm gonna kill myself" or "kill me" jokes. Stop jokingly sending snaps with you holding you pointer finger to your temple. Somebody may actually be having serious thoughts about the very things you joke about. Don't take away the legitimacy and seriousness of their thoughts by your insensitive jokes.

4. Be a welcoming presence.

Be approachable. Sometimes it's as simple as a smile. A smile is an acknowledgement of existence. You never know how much a genuine smile and a friendly wave can impact someone.

5. Befriend those who seem like they need someone.

Don't just observe people. Interact with them. Human interaction and contact comfort have worked to comfort us for thousands of years. Never give in to bystander apathy. Radiate empathy. Back up kind thoughts with kind actions.

6. Have in-depth conversations.

Stop the culture of superficiality. Talk not just about events and people, but also big ideas. Let your minds and imaginations expand in conversation. Don't confine yourself to petty talk. We need to work together to foster a culture where deep, meaningful conversation is welcomed and nurtured.

7. Make new friends.

Confining yourself stagnantly to the same group of friends will only make you seem exclusive and closed off. Open yourself to receive all walks of life. Friend making should be an on-going and lifelong process.

8. Educate yourself on mental illness.

Learn about mental illness and how you can be a helping hand. Education is a powerful tool in the fight against stigmas of mental illness. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and MHA (Mental Health America) both have great information and guidance regarding mental health.

9. Spread the word with others.

Knowledge is powerless if it remains unshared. After educating yourself on mental illness--which is really a lifelong educational process -- do your part in helping educate others. It can be as simple as sharing an insightful article on your Facebook page.

10. Be humane, be kind

It's as simple as the Golden Rule we all learned in kindergarten: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Don't be a bully (and remember, gossip is a form of bullying). And not only refrain from being a bully, but actively confront those who are being bullies. Stand up for people. We may not know very much about mental illness right now, but we do know how to love people.

Let's come together to create a warm, loving environment that fosters empathy and understanding. With an "I," it's mental illness. But with a "we," it's mental wellness.