Let's talk about it
What is mental health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well_ being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the courseof your life,if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood and behavior could be affected. According to Dr. Jennifer M. Gomez, assistant professor in the department of psychology and Merrill Palmer Skilmon, Institute for child and family development (MPSI) at Wayne State University, having good mental health doesn't mean you are happy all of the time. She pointed out that a wide range of emotions from sadness to anger to grief are integral part of being alive. Listing many triggers in our environment includes covid19, police violence, she noted that reacting happily after experiencing any of those things directly or indirectly would be abnormal. If you are struggling, there's nothing inherently wrong with you.
Factors that can contribute to mental health problems, including:
1. Biological factors such as genes or brain chemistry
2. Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
3. Family history of mental health problems. Mental health is common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and may recover completely
Early warning signs
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feeling or behavior can be an early warning signs of a problem
(a.) Eating or sleeping too much or too little
(b.) Pulling away from people and usual activities
(c.) Having low or no energy
(d.) Feeling numb or like nothing matters
(C) Having unexplained aches and pains. Other signs can include smoking, drinking or using drugs more than usual, feeling helpless or hopeless and severe mood swings that can cause problems in relationships.
Positive mental health allows people to:
Realize their full potential,
Cope with stress of life
Work productively and make meaningful contributions to their community
Ways to maintain positive mental health
1. Getting professional help if you you need it.
2. Connecting with others.
3. Staying positive.
4. Helping others.
5. Getting enough sleep.
6. Developing coping skills.
3. Staying positive.
According to Dr Pooja Lakshmin, clinical assistant professor in department of psychiatry and behavioural science at George Washington University school of medicine explained that mental health is health, it is the foundation upon which the whole house is built. Never apologize for taking time and energy for yourself.
