Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. It is because not only do you only have one body, you only have one mind. In this lesson, we will learn about MENTAL HEALTH. We will try to understand the following:
What is mental health?
Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Many people think that mental health is "the mere absence of mental disorders or disabilities". That is not true. Of course, possessing good mental health means 'avoiding any active conditions', it also means 'taking care of ongoing wellness and happiness'.
It is crucial to persevere and restore mental health on an individual basis. Mental health determines how we handle stress, make choices, and relate to others. It is important at every life stage, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
For people who experience mental health problems, their thinking, mood, and behavior are affected.
Factors influencing our mental health
There are various factors that contribute to mental health problems, like:
Everyone is different. Risk factors are also different and change over one's lifespan, as a child, teenager, adult, or older adult.
To improve mental health and wellbeing, one should reduce the risk factors and build the protective factors in their life.
Before we go further, let's briefly understand how our brain is involved in mental health.
Everything that we do, feel, think, or experience involves the functioning of our brain. Many different parts of our brain work together to help it accomplish different things. The brain is made up of cells (neurons), connections amongst the cells, and neurochemicals. Brain cells called neurons secrete chemicals called "neurotransmitters" that transmit signals to connect and talk to other neurons.
There are six primary domains of brain function:
Thinking, perception, emotion, signaling, physical, behavior.
Sometimes, a part of the brain stops working properly or is unable to talk correctly to the other parts - this means the brain is not functioning effectively and one or more of its functions will be disturbed. For example, the person may start feeling sad, unable to sleep properly, become hyperactive or less energetic, etc.
The disturbance may happen in one or more of the 6 primary domains of brain function.
Early warning signs
Not every sad feeling is a sign of mental illness.
It is important to understand three components of our mental health: mental distress, mental health problems, and mental illness.
Mental distress is the stress that a person has when something in their environment is demanding and they need to adapt to a challenge. Everybody experiences some amount of mental distress every day. For example, the stress before writing an exam. Someone experiencing routine stress does not require "medical treatment" - they can manage their response to stress by talking to friends and family, eating healthy food, staying away from alcohol and drugs, taking a good night's sleep, and exercising. For example, being upset, sad, disappointed, annoyed, angry, bitter, pessimistic, and dejected.
Mental health problems - These may happen when a person experiences stressors that are much larger than usual. They occur as part of normal life and aren't mental illnesses. For example, the death of a loved one, moving to a new country, having a serious physical illness, etc. When faced with these large stressors, everyone experiences strong negative emotions like sadness, grief, and anger. The person experiencing mental health problems may show noticeable difficulties in regular functioning in school and outside school. They need additional support or assistance to get through the tough situation. A teacher, academic counselor, or a supportive adult can provide this additional support or assistance. For example, being heartbroken, sorrowful, demoralized, despairing, and grieving.
Mental disorder, also known as mental illness. It is a medical condition that happens due to a complex interplay between a person's genetic makeup and their environment. It is diagnosed and treated by doctors, psychologists, mental health clinics, and psychiatric nurses. For example, depression is a mental disorder.
How to look after your mental health
1. Eat healthy, nutritious meals.
2. Stay active by exercising and playing outdoor sports.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Talk about your feelings with family and close friends.
5. Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and avoid self-criticism.
6. Make time for your hobbies.
7. Spend quality time with family and friends.
8. Engage in volunteering activities. Help someone in need and meet new people.
9. Set realistic goals. Don't overstress yourself academically and personally. Write down the steps to achieve your goals and prepare a to-do list.
10. When you accomplish a milestone, celebrate with your family and friends. It gives a tremendous sense of self-worth.
11. Break up the monotony. Although our routines make us efficient, a little change sometimes can perk up a tedious schedule. Alter your daily routine, listen to a new song, meet new friends, and start a new hobby.
12. Keep a positive attitude.
13. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness.
Overcome the stigma of mental illness
Many people have false beliefs and negative attitudes toward people who have a mental health condition. For example, using wrong words and actions, negative labels for people with mental illness. Most people fear, reject, avoid, or discriminate against people with mental illness. This is showing disrespect.
Fear of stigma prevents people with mental illness to seek the right treatment and support they need to overcome their condition.
The presence of a mental illness does not mean a person cannot have a successful life and make a positive contribution to society. People throughout history have been successful while living with a mental illness.
Do you know?
All these people have been successful in different fields despite their mental illnesses.
Mental disorders are NOT
Common mental health disorders
The most common types of mental health disorders:
Anxiety disorders
Certain objects or situations trigger severe fear or anxiety in people with these disorders. Some examples of anxiety disorders are:
- Simple phobias: These might involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects, scenarios, or animals. For example, fear of spiders.
- Social phobia: This is also known as social anxiety. It is a fear of being subject to the judgment of others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social environments.
- Agoraphobia: It refers to a fear of situations in which getting away may be difficult. For example, being in an elevator, moving train, or airplane.
Mood disorders
People with mood disorders show significant changes in mood, generally involving either mania, which is a period of high energy and elation, or depression. Examples of mood disorders are:
Schizophrenia disorders
It is a complex condition. Individuals with schizophrenia disorders have thoughts that appear fragmented, and they may find it hard to process information. Schizophrenia has positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are delusions, thought disorders, and hallucinations. Negative symptoms are withdrawal, lack of motivation, and a flat or inappropriate mood.
