Your mental and emotional wellness is just as essential as your physical health. Good mental health allows you to perform successfully, maintain social connections, have positive self-esteem, and manage life’s challenges.
In my recent research on mental health, I came across a podcast of Benjamin Zablotsky, a health expert at the National Center For Health Statistics. He shared that about 1 in 5 or 6 children face mental health issues like ADHD, anxiety, or depression. He also found that roughly 14% of kids have received therapy or medication for these concerns in the past year. He pointed out that teenagers are more vulnerable to mental health issues. He also mentioned that social media and cyberbullying also affect teens’ mental health.
So, it’s clear that mental health is a big deal, and why mental health is important, especially for young folks.
In this blog, we will discuss what mental health means, how to maintain mental health, and share some simple tips for mental health.
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health is a state of mental well-being. Good mental health means feeling good mentally, so you can handle life’s challenges, do well in school or work, and be a positive part of your community It is important to build relationships, make decisions, and make the world a better place. Everyone deserves good mental health because it is a basic right and helps us all grow.
Mental health is not about having just mental disorders. It is more like a spectrum, where some people struggle a lot, whilst others do not. Mental health conditions can include feeling very sad or worried, having trouble doing daily tasks, or being at risk of hurting yourself. People who have mental health conditions often have lower levels of mental well-being, but this is not always necessary.
Tips for Mental Health and Overall Wellbeing
Getting the right mental health support is necessary for our well-being. Thankfully, laws like the Mental Health Access Improvement Actmake it easier to find help. Let’s look at some simple tips for mental health to make the most of the available resources.
Keep Up With Law Changes
Stay informed about mental health laws like the Mental Health Access Improvement Act. Knowing how these laws affect your access to care can help you get the support you need.
Use Your Insurance
Check if your insurance covers mental health services. It could make seeking help more affordable.
Try Telehealth
Consider using telehealth services for therapy. With the law’s support, it’s easier to access counseling from home.
Maintaining our mental health is vital for our well-being and overall health. And to maintain your mental health, you need to focus on self-care. You cannot avoid self-care and expect to have great mental health. Small gestures of self-care in your everyday life make a huge difference.
Here are a few tips on how to maintain mental health that can help you throughout life:
- Be Kind to Yourself: It’s easy to be harsh on yourself when you’re sad. While you may not want to celebrate or commend yourself, try to be kind. And here’s a bonus tip: if you’re having trouble being nice to yourself, try doing something nice for others. Then, congratulate yourself for completing the task!
- Look after your body: Physical self-care can help enhance your mental wellness. Remember to:
- Eat healthy food.
- Do not smoke too much, or avoid it as much as you can.
- Be sure to hydrate yourself.
- Exercise can help reduce anxiety as well as depression while also improving mood.
- Get adequate rest. Sleep deprivation, according to researchers, leads to the high occurrence of depression among young adults.
- Prioritize your goals: Determine what should be done right away and what can wait. If you find yourself taking on too many responsibilities, remember to say “no” to new ones. When the day is over, try to focus on your successes rather than your shortcomings.
- Take part in things that you like: Keep engaging in things that are significant and pleasant to you, such as cycling in the morning, reading novels, or watching your favourite series or movies, cooking for your loved ones, etc. Maintaining good mental health requires a regular schedule filled with things that make you joyful.
- Master new skills: According to research, acquiring new skills can benefit your mental health by:
- Enhancing self-esteem and self-confidence
- Assisting you in developing a sense of direction
- Helping you connect with new people.
- Dance while you work: Sing or dance when you’re busy with chores. Dancing not only helps you get your duties done but also lowers the stress hormones and boosts the feel-good hormones.
- Calm your thoughts: Try meditation and prayer to calm your thoughts. Relaxation techniques and prayer can help you enhance your mood and attitude toward life. Studies suggest that meditating can help you feel peaceful and improve the results of therapy.
- Stay away from screens before bedtime: According to research, gazing at screens before going to bed can impact the quality of your sleep. The blue light emitted by your devices affects melatonin production, the chemical that governs your sleep/wake cycle. Using your mobile, whether you’re texting, reading, or doing anything else, can keep your mind engaged when it ought to be settling down.
- Talking can change your perception of a situation: Put it in words. It will help you feel less alone and safe, eventually protecting your mental health and preventing issues. Talking can also alter your perceptions and feelings about the issue in ways that you find beneficial.
- Plan for the future: Life throws us many curveballs, and when things are tough, we can feel helpless and lack the energy to make future plans. It might be easier to deal with challenging circumstances if we have something to look forward to, such as fun activities.
Seek medical attention if your symptoms persist even after following these tips for mental health. Do not wait until your symptoms get complicated and discuss it with your physician, who can refer you to a counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can protect your mental health in many different ways, such as setting boundaries to preserve your time and energy, practicing mindfulness to stay aware, limiting your exposure to negative influences like toxic relationships, seeking support from your friends, families, and support groups, engaging in activities you enjoy for pleasure, etc.
Seeking help for mental health is important because early interventions can prevent issues from getting worse, treatment also improves the quality of life and coping skills, reduces stigma, and encourages others to prioritize their mental health. Additionally, treatment like therapy provides a safe space for exploring thoughts and feelings.
