Last week was Mental Health Awareness week, but for those who struggle with mental illness, it's important that we continue to raise awareness the whole year round.

Today, I wanted to share something that I have found really helpful during particular difficult seasons and moments. I have a few conditions, including depression and anxiety, and often find myself in moments of panic, overwhelm, even crisis. For years now I have had something that I call my 'crisis box'.

A crisis box can have lots of different names: emergency box, hope box, self-soothe box, happy box - you can call it whatever you like really. The point is that it is a box you can make that contains things that ground you, help you get to a calmer place, that help you when you’re struggling with your mental health.

This might be things that distract you from distressing thoughts, objects that help you to feel more calm and relaxed, items that remind you of positive memories or close friendships or things that help you to navigate what to do when you are feeling distressed. It can be very difficult to work out what will help when you are in the middle of a crisis or feeling distressed, and a crisis box is designed to help you throught that. The important thing is that it is completely personalised to you.

Along with several cards from close friends, a copy Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and a scrapbook, one of the things that I keep in my crisis box is the Little Book of Chaos. When my thoughts are trying to tell me that there is no hope, that I am alone, unloved, a burden, this Little Book points me to Bible truths that say otherwise, that remind me that there is hope, that I am loved, that I am not alone in this fight. I also have a small version that I put in my bag sometimes to take out with them in case they need it. I love that I can put a copy of Little Book of Chaos in there, or carry a one around in my pocket. When I feel overwhelmed, this little booklet helps to ground me, and reminds me of what is true, of what God has given me, of the hope I have in Jesus.

Perhaps a crisis box is something that would help you, or something that you could help a friend put together. Or maybe you could make a care package for a friend who is struggling, and share the idea with them. Here are some ideas of what else you could included in you box:

• Crisis/safety plan (a clear guide of what to do when you feel overwhelmed or unsafe).
• Details of people / helplines you can contact for support.
• A note pad and pens to write down how you feel.
• Cards from friends and families.
• Distracting things (such as a puzzle book, a colouring book, or games).
• Something that you can touch, a good distraction for your hands (such as playdough, fidget cubes or spinners, and stress balls).
• Crafty projects (having an activity to complete can really help you self-soothe).
• Special memory items or little trinkets (such as tickets, gifts or handwritten notes).
• A few photos of people or places that have only positive memories attached to them.
• I always keep a bottle of essential oil as it is a strong, concentrated scent; you can put a few drops on your clothing, stress ball or playdough.
• Headphones and a list of helpful songs to listen to.
• Calming technique cards.
• A booklet, like Little Book of Chaos, Finding Hope or Why Me?

It's all up to you really. But personally, I’m grateful for this Little Book of Chaos, for the words inside that voice the mental storm, the words that remind me of comfort and hope. I’m grateful for something tangible that I can hold in my pocket, that I can put in my crisis box. I’m grateful that in the depth of the chaos, God never lets go of me, and he makes sure that I never let go of faith.