Title: Importance of Mental Health in Today’s World
1Importance of Mental Health in Todays World (7
Reasons Why)
Mental Health includes how we feel, think, and
behave. It can affect our relationships, daily
lives, job, physical health, etc. Mental health
experts and therapists help people struggling
with depression, addiction, anxiety, sleeping
and eating disorder, bipolar disorder, and other
mental conditions. Here is a blog to explore
the importance of mental health, the factor
affecting mental health, and how we can ensure
mental wellness.
2- What is Mental Health?
- In general terms, Mental Health is the absence of
mental disorders, but it's way more than that.
It exists in a complex continuum. Each person has
different experiences, and the degree of
distress, social outcomes, and clinical results
can vary from person to person. - Mental wellness enables people to cope with
anxiety, life, and stress by realising their
potential. Moreover, it affects our ability to
make decisions and build relationships. Mentally
healthy people learn well, seek opportunities,
and contribute to the community. - Earlier, people hardly used to talk about mental
care and their idea of overall wellness was
restricted to physical well-being. However, with
more people coming forward and talking about
their mental health conditions, it has now become
a basic human right. It is integral to
community, personal, and socioeconomic growth. - Also readMental Pollution Are you Ready for a
better Mental Health? - Why is Mental Health Important?
- We cannot emphasise the importance of mental
health enough. Psychological wellness has a
direct impact on our behaviour, which affects our
relationships and overall health. Here are a few
primary reasons why we all must pay more
attention to our mental wellness and health. - Cope Better with Stress
- Due to professional stress, financial woes,
relationship disputes, and other life issues,
many people adopt isolation, drugs, fighting,
and other side effects. However, a stable mind
encourages us to overcome such obstacles with a
positive attitude by improving our coping
mechanisms. With emotional and mental wellness at
its peak, we can better deal with lifes
challenges and overcome any hurdle without
stress. - Creates Connection
- A lot of stigma and discrimination surrounds
mental health illness. Hence, increasing the
importance of mental health in todays world. By
improving our knowledge and understanding of
mental health, we can recognise symptoms of
mental disorders and seek help on time. Also, we
can increase awareness and support others who
avoid asking for help and suffer in silence. This
can create safe environments for discussions. - Wiser Decision Making
3- A Positive Self-Image
- Another importance of mental health and mental
hygiene is it affects our self-esteem and how we
perceive ourselves. Our mental health correlates
with our feeling about ourselves. - Confidence indicates a healthy mental state.
- This is crucial for students as they face peer
pressure, exam pressure, and whatnot throughout.
If their mental health is flourishing, they will
focus on the good in themselves rather than
having an inferiority complex. They will put
their energy, focus on honing their qualities,
and strive for a happier and healthier life. - Improved Quality of Life
- Mentally healthier people work toward improving
their quality of life. They are encouraged to
participate in community building and volunteer
for good causes. They stick to their schedules,
eating, sleeping, and exercising daily on time.
Also, they can spare time to pick up new hobbies,
travel nee destinations, and connect with
people. It is one of the key reasons why mental
is important. - Healthier Relationships
- The way you feel mentally affects your
relationships with friends, family, and loved
ones. You give them enough time, share your
concerns, listen to their stories, and spend
quality time with them. Also, you are capable of
providing support and affection whenever they
need it. However, people dealing with stress and
anxiety become hostile and short-tempered, which
often strains their relationships. - Enhanced Productivity
- There is great importance of mental health in the
workplace as your mental state affects your
productivity and efficiency. When you feel
mentally stronger, you work with zeal and
dedication, delivering quality results. - Also read 60 Mental Health Quotes to Inspire
and Uplift You - Connection Between Mental and Physical Health
- Mental and physical health are closely linked.
Any physical condition or mental disorder can
affect the quality of life, need instant care,
and generate serious consequences. Your mental
health condition can lead to harmful habits, such
as smoking, alcohol, unhealthy eating, and an
irregular sleep cycle.
4- Chronic conditions are significant evidence of a
close relationship between physical and mental
health. - Poor mental health may cause various chronic
conditions. - Chronic physical conditions can lead to the risk
of poor mental health. - To prevent such conditions, ensure a balanced
diet, physical activities, social inclusion, and
social support. This will create a protective
wall around you and eliminate mental and physical
health risks. - Moreover, it is important to know that the
difference between the two is way less than one
may assume. You might feel that your mood,
mental state, and thoughts are separate from your
physical condition, but its all the result of
your brain activity.
Factors Contributing to Poor Mental Health There
is no one reason behind poor mental health.
Different factors affect our mental state and
behaviour, be it biological, social,
professional, academic, or environmental. Some
people
5- struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder
after witnessing a terrifying event, accident or
natural disaster, while some inherit it. - Many struggle with depression and anxiety due to
hectic work life or academic pressure. We are
discussing three major factors that affect our
mental health. - Biological factors
- Many a time, mental illnesses run in the family,
which may be passed down to members through
genes. Research and experts have concluded that
various mental health conditions are linked to
abnormalities in many genes rather than a few. - These genes interact with the environment in a
unique way for each individual. Moreover, mental
illnesses often come from the interaction of
multiple genes and other involved factors, such
as abuse, stress, traumatic event, etc., which
trigger an illness in a person. - Environmental factors
- Another strong factor of a mental health illness
is an unusual environment and circumstances,
which negatively impact some people's
psychological wellness. For example, a natural
disaster can cause post-traumatic stress
disorder. - Likewise, an abusive environment can lead to
suicidal thoughts. Even air pollution can cause
depression. On the contrary, positive social
surroundings can eliminate the risk of mental
illnesses and provide protection against any such
challenge. - Social factors
- Loneliness is among the major contributors to
mental health conditions and disorders. We all
feel lonely at times, but surrounding ourselves
with friends, family, and loved ones can give us
the happiness and peace that we seek. - When we lose a relationship, we experience grief
at deeper levels, which leads to anxiety and
depression. The point to note is loneliness is
different from isolation the former refers to
feeling alone even when we have people around.
6- Self-care
- Exercise
- Exercise shouldnt be an option it must be your
lifestyle. Spare a few minutes every day to
practice yoga, meditation, or any other form of
exercise. It relaxes your mind and body, which
improves your mental state and perspective. - Meditation can help you find inner strength and
peace amidst stress. Make sure to have the right
environment when you meditate or exercise. You
must be able to focus. And yes, wear comfortable
clothes for effective results. Joining authentic
yoga courses will prove to be of great help
here. - Healthy diet
- What you eat is what you become. When you eat
junk food, you feel constant restlessness, find
it hard to sleep, and cant focus on anything. On
the other hand, a nutritional and balanced diet
enhances your mental health and keeps your body
active. - Eat as many fruits as you can, including various
colours of fruits, along with green vegetables,
beans, and food that include mood-boosting
nutrients. Include proteins, vitamins, and other
nutrients in your daily meals. - Good sleep habits
- Sleep is critical not just for your physical
health but for your mental health as well.
According to research, people who sleep for 6
hours or less per night (average) are 2.5 times
more likely to experience mental disorders or
distress than those who sleep for more than 6
hours. - So, have a proper schedule and stick to it. Also,
have disrupted sleep because your quality of
sleep matters the most and contributes
significantly to your mental health.
7- Seeking help for mental health doesn't indicate
your weakness, but it's a sign of your strength.
If you feel depressed and have negative thoughts
about everything, talk to a professional
therapist. - Its your chance to share what you are going
through and talk to someone who can understand
you. Dont suffer in silence or ignore the
symptoms of mental health conditions seek timely
treatment. - This treatment can give amazing results within a
few weeks. Many people who have received
appropriate care have recovered from mental
illnesses and addiction and are living a
rewarding life. - Its time to get rid of the stigma. Thats the
reason initiatives like mental health awareness
month are happening. - Medication
- Many people suffering from mental disorders may
need medication along with therapy. These
prescriptions may include antipsychotics,
antidepressants, and anxiolytic drugs. - Medicines alone cannot cure mental illnesses, but
they can help in reducing symptoms. Medications
are also recommended for people with social
interaction issues as they improve the bodys
absorption of feel-good chemicals from the brain. - Support groups
- If you are not ready for therapy yet, joining a
support group is also helpful. It allows you to
meet people going through the same mental
distress and conditions as you. When you meet
others who share similar experiences, you
realise that you are not alone. - Moreover, you also get to meet people who have
recovered from mental illnesses, which motivates
you to focus on your mental health more.
Participate in group activities, talk to people,
learn from their stories, share yours, and you
will feel better soon.
8Try to have different types of connections. Your
bond with your parents will be different from
that with your siblings and friends. You can
also join a group hobby class, organisation, or
community to keep your mind occupied. 2.
Community There are a lot of communities that
help people with mental illnesses by organising
events, campaigns, and other activities. Find
such communities in your neighbourhood and be a
part of at least one of them. Also, keep in
touch with people who understand and support you.
Go out for lunch or dinner dates, meet for
reading sessions, and talk about happy times, as
these small efforts can make a big
difference. Conclusion Mental health includes
emotional, cognitive, and behavioural well-being.
It impacts almost every aspect of our lives- how
we interact with others, our decisions, emotions,
relationships, and whatnot. While taking care of
your mental health, you need to manage your
stressors and several conditions along with
maintaining your happiness and overall
wellness. If you have been ignoring your mental
wellness, its time for self-care. Dont hesitate
to ask for help if and when you need it, discuss
it with your family and friends, and spare no
effort to live a happier and more fulfilled life.