Your Mental Health Matters
With good mental health, you can enjoy life and cope in times of stress
The terms mental health and mental illness are sometimes used interchangeably but they are not the same. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as: ‘a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to contribute to society’. Your mental health and wellbeing can affect how you think and act.
The term mental illness is used to describe a few health conditions that effect thinking, behaviour and mood. There are several different types of mental illnesses, many of which have similar symptoms. While mental illness, in most cases, can be successfully treated or managed, due to stigmatisation, many people do not seek assistance. Without treatment, symptoms worsen and there will be a notable decline in the person’s quality of life. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder are common types of mental illnesses.
Understanding mental health
Every person has their physical health and their mental health. Like physical health, mental health occurs as part of a spectrum or continuum, rather than something which is either ‘on’ or ‘off’. In terms of one’s physical health. Today you may feel generally well with a slight headache, but tomorrow you may have back pain.
Mental health works in the same way. Numerous factors can impact on mental health at any given time and tip the scales this way or that. You may feel happy you passed your exam, but after learning of the passing of a loved one, you may be grief-stricken. Good mental health on one side of the spectrum may reflect as a positive mood, coping well during stress and being socially active. The middle of the spectrum is average mental health, with poor mental health on the far side. Poor mental health may present with emotional issues (anger, depression etc.), inability to perform daily tasks, substance abuse, struggling to fall asleep or changes in eating patterns.
Mental health and mental illness can influence each other but the presence of one doesn’t necessarily mean the presence of the other. Not everyone with poor mental health will be diagnosed with a mental illness.
Look after your mental health
Just as you would take medication for a physical illness, there are several ways in which you can improve or maintain mental health. Without these coping mechanisms, prolonged poor mental health can lead to other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
- Talk about it. Open up to a partner or friend about how you currently feel and get their perspective. In times of stress, negative thought patterns can make it difficult to see the situation rationally or find solutions. A friend or loved one can bring new perspective to a situation that troubles you.
- Eat a healthy diet. Following a healthy diet can improve your physical health and boost your immune system to help you fight illness. The food you eat supplies fuel and nutrients to your organs, including your brain. Look out for our article, Eating for Mental Wellness, in this month’s e-newsletter.
- Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can impact on your ability to reason (judgement) your cognitive ability, and your mood. Adults need between seven and eight hours sleep per night.
- Manage stress. If you find it difficult to wind down after a stressful day, take a walk after work, listen to music, or write in a journal. Exercise can be a great stress reliever, releasing feel-good hormones called endorphins into the bloodstream and helping to improve mood.
- Make time for things that interest you. Find balance between work and family responsibilities and the things that you love and want to pursue.
- Learn something new. Take an online course, start a new gym class, or sign up for a new sport. Challenging yourself to do something different can help improve your self-esteem and boost confidence. In a group setting, you’ll also get to meet new people who share common interests.
- Keep in contact with loved ones. If you can’t catch up with someone face-to-face, give them a call and have a personal conversation rather than instant messaging where real connection and meaning is often lost.
- Value yourself. We often treat others with more compassion and kindness than we treat ourselves. Try to treat yourself with respect and avoid self-criticism. If you struggle with negative thought patterns, find a positive affirmation that you can say to remind to be kind to yourself. For example: ‘I am not my thoughts’ or ‘This too shall pass’.
If you are concerned about your mental wellbeing or start using alcohol or misusing drugs or prescription medication to cope with stress or change your mood, reach out to your healthcare provider for assistance.
If you feel you need health and wellness support or advice, please contact us on 0861 GOLIFE (465433), SMS “Wellbeing” to 43821, or email golife@healthichoices.com
Resources: https://www.un.org/; https://everymind.org.au/; https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/; https://www.webmd.com/; https://www.healthline.com/; https://www.mcleanhospital.org/; https://www.inpsychful.sg/