What Is Mental Health?

Nowadays, the stigma on mental illness is fortunately not as strong as it was in the past, but the truth is that there is still a sense of shame involved in admitting that we are struggling mentally.

Mental health has a great impact on our daily lives and the choices we make. It involves our emotional, psychological and social well-being, and it influences the way we process our thoughts, feelings and how we react to certain situations.

It’s essential to nurture your mental health throughout your life, as it can be affected positively or negatively at any stage. Understanding what mental health is can help you manage your thoughts, moods and consequently your behaviours, in a more positive way.

Expanding awareness around mental health, and how to take care of it, avoids to add confusion around this already controversial topic. Mental health awareness can help you in your own life, help others, and promote empathetic and supportive behaviours toward one another.

What causes mental illness?

Numbers around mental illness are impressive. Most people will experience mental health problems at some point in life; the good news is that most of them heal entirely with the appropriate care and attention, and in some cases by adding mental health support and medical treatment.

Australian researches show that one in five people is experiencing mental health issues in any one year. World Health Organization researches increase this number to one in four people.

Some circumstances can increase the chance of experiencing mental health problems:

● Genetic factors

● Brain injuries

● Trauma and abuse experiences

● Use of drugs and alcohol

● Stressful life events

How To Spot Early Signs?

Early intervention is vital as it allows early treatment and support. One or more of the following could be an indication of a problem:

● Unhealthy sleep pattern, too little or too much

● Unhealthy relationship with food

● Distancing friends and family

● Prolonged feelings of hopelessness or numbness,

● Lack of motivation and energy

● Experiencing unusual overwhelming feelings

● Drastic mood changes impacting daily life