Three actionable ideas to help reduce depression, anxiety and stress

It was October 29, 1929, a day now known as Black Tuesday. This wasn't a day of frenzied consumer shopping for discounts but the day the stock market collapsed causing the biggest economic depression in American history.

Those were dark days; millions of people lost their livelihoods, their savings, and tragically even their lives. Since then the American economy has experienced ups, downs and setbacks, but has grown and provided Americans an unparalleled quality of life.

The average American today has a standard of living unknown to generations past. We live in bigger and nicer homes, drive faster and safer cars, have greater access to affordable products and services, not to mention devices that have put knowledge at our fingertips and relieved us of many tedious chores.

In a great many ways, life has never been more comfortable and convenient for Americans and yet so many feel lonely, unhappy, anxious or depressed. Why?

This is a question that has perplexed me. In the midst of all our prosperity and comfort why are so many of us struggling with our mental health and wellbeing. I have thought about, discussed and studied this topic a great many times.

Not only because I have at times struggled with my mental health, but I have seen friends and family struggle too. I am not a mental health expert by any means, so I offer these following three ideas based upon my own experience and research for how we might begin the recovery from our modern great depression to greater or even full recovery.