Why Mental Health is so important

                             

 

Mental Health is just as important as physical health.

The state of our mind plays a vital role in how we function.

 As a human race, our minds are incredibly important. Although their capabilities, structure, and responsibilities are intricate, it's evident through research and understanding that the brain plays a huge role in how we operate. But despite this, caring for our minds through the malfunctions or challenges it may face, still seems to have elements of stigma attached. Although mental health awareness is increasing and improving as the conversation evolves, within our society, it still seems to be the case that caring for our physical health trumps the mental. But with the mind playing such a vital role in determining how we live, it's clear caring for it should require crucial consideration. It's a priority.

What are the facts?

Around 15% of the world's diseases are mental illnesses. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year, it's extremely common, yet there is still a sense of shame attached to sharing if one is struggling or requires external support. The stigma around mental health comes from the views and beliefs that have been socially constructed and ingrained into our minds. Unlike physical illness, mental illness or struggle cannot be seen, so we are often faced with the intruding belief that if we speak up we won't be taken seriously, and society informs us that we should be able to 'pull ourselves together' or 'snap out of it'. Men in particular are displayed in society as having to be strong or 'man up', and it's these ideas that we are brought into and surrounded by, that influence how we feel and choose to behave. As a result, we bottle feelings up with the fear of being judged or viewed differently if we display our emotions or ask for help, when that doesn't have to be the case. Everyone experiences emotions and has the right to seek advice or support. Some societies view mental health as less legitimate than physical, and that if you experience difficulties mentally then it's a sign of weakness, rather than something we all face within our lifetime to varying degree. In today's world, the fast pace of society means we often suppress things in order to keep up, we turn to quick fixes rather than addressing the root and considering longevity and sustainability.

What is adequate Mental Health?

Mental Health surrounds our psychological, emotional and social well-being. The World Health Organisation (WHO), defines Health as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity', which suggests quite rightly, that physical and mental health hold equal importance in an individual's well-being. They also suggest it's a state of well-being that includes perceived self-autonomy, efficiency, and competence, the realisation of one's abilities and potential, the ability to cope with normal stresses of life, and can work productivity and contribute to the community. Of course, cultural differences, subjective beliefs and different theories, can all impact how an individual defines specificity around mental health.

What determines the state of our Mental Health?

Mental health is more than just a lack of mental illness or disorder. Just like our bodies, the state of our minds are dependent on many factors, our health is affected by our biological, social, economic and environmental conditions. Both Nature (genetics and biological factors) and Nurture (environmental factors), have been found to play a part. What's determined, as well as what's discovered and developed through exposure, influences how our mind functions, how we perceive what's around us and how we function. How others behave towards us also influences how we think about ourselves and the world we live in, therefore it's important to care for our own mental health and take ownership over how we treat others for the benefit of the human race as a whole. Our minds and how we think, directly affects our feelings and behaviour. When we take time to consider our thought processes and perhaps practice removing unnecessary restrictions or harm within the mind, we can allow our feelings and actions to shift positively and adapt freely when required. Caring for one's mental health doesn't mean that you will always be happy or never experience challenges, because we all experience a range of emotions and difficult times, it just means that it's not consistent, feelings change but our behaviour or thoughts do not have to become destructive or harmful. We can continue and let new feelings in from a place of clarity, openness and acceptance.

How can we care for our Mental Health?

You do not have to have a mental illness in order to care for your mind. It's caring for our minds consistently that allows prevention of disease or illness, similarly to caring for our bodies. Just as we stretch, exercise, or consider our consumption to ensure we are prioritising physical health, we can practice techniques and strategies to look after our minds. However, it's not only up to us as individuals to be expected to have the tools to be equipped to manage through times where our minds may be greatly tested or experience alterations. It's also down to the greater environment, the government and how we choose to view mental health as a collective, and to ensure we are respecting and protecting the rights of all human beings to prioritise well-being. It's important that we continue to remove unnecessary stigma around such topics, implement policies and programmes to ensure when an individual is suffering, they are able to speak up and reach out for help without fearing judgement or not being taken seriously. Respect and acceptance.
Mental health care is bigger than the expectation of fighting alone. We are powerful as individuals, but we do not have superpowers, and sometimes we require help from others, and that's nothing to be ashamed of, it's just a fact. We can struggle with our mental health at any point in our lives, unexpectedly or suddenly, but there are strategies of prevention we can choose to implement.

What strategies can we implement?

- Mental Health Awareness and lessons for children. Providing knowledge and education from an early age to ensure children grow up with a recognition of looking after the mind, a knowledge of challenges we can face, including different illnesses or perspectives. Educating children on the importance of mental health from an early age will influence the freedom and lack of fear when requiring support, and reduce any stigma around asking for assistance or conversing around mental health in general.

- Continuing the Conversation. The more we talk openly, the more we reduce discomfort or stigma that doesn't need to be attached. Continue reading, researching, and staying open to knowledge from reliable and accredited sources. Investing in support and development programmes, schemes, helplines, initiatives, centres, equality, discussions, campaigns and opportunities to enhance reassurance and guidance for all. It's about making plans to improve and then acting on them and implementing them. Using time, money and voices for the greater good and change in what's available. Tackling social issues to provide treatment for everyone, tackling availability of services to improve accessibility, and continuing conversation to improve awareness and knowledge.
- Services. Continuing to invest in mental health services to provide adequate support for individuals when they reach out or when they require assistance. Increasing accessibility and availability to ensure if someone is in need or support, it's there to receive.

- Talking to others.  As well as taking the time to consider your own thoughts, what's helpful and what you can let pass, it's helpful to continue interacting with others. To share with family, friends, a professional, or someone to can confide in, to untangle to mind, and provide support. Interact with real people rather than just virtual interactions.
- Awareness of your behaviour. There are elements of our daily lives that we can consider and care for which will directly influence the functioning of both our minds and bodies. Movement, what we consume and our sleep. Prioritising these with an awareness rather than an obsession, can have a positive impact on clarity of mind.
- Awareness of your thoughts. It's okay to run away with thoughts, to experience uncomfortable feelings and to let them in to allow shifts to occur. It's human and we are not perfect. It's when we ignore our thoughts or feelings and try to reject them completely that we turn to destructive behaviour to try and get rid of them or feel bad because of them. We can notice our thoughts without leading to self-destruction. We can acknowledge them and let them pass by without needing to push them away. Listen to your mind and body, don't ignore when it's informing you that something may need to change or you may need some support.
- Mindfulness. Using mindfulness techniques can be useful to help slow the mind and bring you back to the present, an awareness of living in each moment can reduce the likelihood of being overwhelmed by the mind or running away with thoughts. Considering what you are grateful for and implementing appreciation can be useful in maintaining an open and positive outlook.

- Take time to rest. In our fast pace society, we often feel we're lazy if we choose to take time to rest or we must always be doing something. This isn't the case. Rest is just as important as being active. Relaxation is essential for the mind and body to function optimally. We are allowed to do things simply because we would like to, we enjoy them, or they make us feel good. It's about incorporating a balance between work, rest and play into our lives.

Of course, understanding how our minds work and what strategies we can implement in our daily lives is important and vital in developing our own care for our mental health, but ultimately it is down to how we view mental health and illness as a collective. It's essential that we continue to converse and act to remove its unnecessary stigma, how we think about mental health is just as important as working to understanding it. Acknowledging mental health as equally important as physical health is necessary to ensure we are moving forwards, and that the well-being of all individuals is prioritised as a whole.