According to the World Health Organization, mental health is a ‘state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her community.’
So rather than being about ‘what’s the problem?’ it’s about ‘What’s going well?’
Mental health is about wellness rather than illness.
To make things a bit clearer, some experts have tried coming up with different terms to explain the difference between ‘mental health’ and ‘mental health conditions.’ Various phrases have been proposed by people to emphasise that mental health is about well-being rather than illness.
Others have tried to explain the difference by talking about a continuum where mental health is at one end of the spectrum – represented by feeling good and functioning well – while mental health conditions / illness are at the other – represented by symptoms that affect people’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviour.
The benefits of staying well.
Research shows that high levels of mental health are associated with increased learning, creativity and productivity, more pro-social behaviour and positive social relationships, and with improved physical health and life expectancy. In contrast, mental health conditions can cause distress, impact on day-to-day functioning and relationships, and are associated with poor physical health and premature death from suicide.
It is important to remember that mental health is complex. The fact that someone is not experiencing a mental health condition does not necessarily mean their mental health is flourishing. Likewise, it is possible to be diagnosed with a mental health condition while feeling well in many aspects of life.
Ultimately, mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally, and socially healthy – the way we think, feel and develop relationships - and not merely the absence of a mental health condition.
Some of the signs and symptoms that you are someone else might be struggling:
Change in feelings or demeanour…
Difficulty interacting…
Appetite or weight changes…
Uncontrollable emotions…
Behavioural changes…
Feeling sad or down for an extended period…
Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate…
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt…
Extreme mood changes of highs and lows…
Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities…
Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping…
What are some of the things you can do to stay mentally healthy?
Talk to a counsellor or therapist of your choosing. Just like you take care of your body it is important to take care of your mind.
Exercise: Walk, Pilates, Gym, Yoga, any outdoor activities.
Have a good diet.
Practise meditation and mindfulness.
Have a routine.
HOW IS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?
I want to normalise asking ‘how’s your mental health?” I want to normalise cancelling plans to protect that mental health. I want to normalise coffee and chats about darkness (it automatically brings in the light). I want to normalise not avoiding someone who brings down the mood, no one left Eeyore out. I want to normalise reaching in when someone isn’t reaching out and not worrying you’ll say the wrong thing because the truth is your heart speaks for you and their heart will feel that. I want to normalise working on our mental health in exactly the same way we work on our bodies – every day or minimum three times a week. I want to normalise mental health interventions at every defining stage of our lives, lots of help for vulnerable teens, divorcers, new parents, menopause and retirement/empty nesters. Most of all I want to normalise the realisation that nothing, NOTHING matters if our mental health isn’t in check and that each and every one of us has our own issues to deal with in that respect.
Mental health isn’t just for today, it’s for life, it IS life.
I want to normalise asking ‘how’s your mental health?’ And never just accepting ‘fine’.
Who is with me?
Poem by Donna Ashworth
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