Understanding the importance of mental health care is imperative. We need to collectively, as a society, overcome the barriers that have been put up that keep us from addressing mental health in a positive, productive way. When we consider the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 5 adults experience at least one mental health condition every year, it’s hard to deny that we need to be making mental health awareness more of a priority.
What is mental health?
Mentatdgt/ Pexels | Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit
Mental health is described as a state of well-being where a person is able to cope with the normal stresses of life. This state permits productive work output and allows for meaningful contributions to society. The term mental health consists of an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Your mental health can affect the way you think, perceive things, feel and react to situations or other people. This also includes your stress handling techniques and reflects in the choices you make.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health problems
Reasons to care for mental health
There are many reasons we should care about mental health. Maintaining it is crucial to stabilizing constructive behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Focusing on mental health care can increase productivity, enhance our self-image, and improve relationships.
Julia Volk/ Pexels | The key to a healthy life is having a healthy mind
Nurturing mental health doesn’t just let us perform better in our daily functions. It can also help us control some of the physical health problems directly linked to mental health conditions. For example, heart disease and stress are related, so managing stress might have a positive outcome on heart disease. Family history of mental health problems. When mental well-being thrives, your quality of life may improve. This can give room for greater participation in community building. For example, you may begin volunteering in soup kitchens, at food drives, shelters, etc.
How to maintain mental health and well-being
Because mental health is so important to general wellness, it’s important that you take care of your mental health. To keep mental health in shape, a few introductions to and changes to lifestyle practices may be required. These include:
- Taking up regular exercise
- Prioritizing rest and sleep on a daily basis
- Trying meditation
- Learning coping skills for life challenges
- Keeping in touch with loved ones
- Maintaining a positive outlook on life
Daria Shevtsova/ Pexels | The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future
Another proven way to improve and maintain mental well-being is through the guidance of a professional. Talk therapy can teach you healthier ways to interact with others and coping mechanisms to try during difficult times. Therapy can also help you address some of your own negative behaviors and provide you with the tools to make some changes in your own life.
