World Mental Health Day!

October 10th is dedicated to the objective of raising awareness for mental health issues all around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental well-being, health, and issues. The World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity for everyone working on their mental health, or in the profession itself, to introspect and talk about their work. It is important to recognize what needs to be done and what changes need to be made in order to make mental health care a reality for people all around the globe, just like physical health.

As found by the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in 2014, 1 in 6 people experience a common mental health problem. From anxiety and depression to eating disorders to schizophrenia, all concerns related to mental well-being deserve undisputed attention and care. While professional care is crucial in many cases, it is important to be there for ourselves and for the people around us in a manner that doesn’t jeopardize anyone’s well-being.

This year’s World Mental Health Day comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of COVID-19. The past few months have brought many difficult challenges and circumstances; for health-care workers, providing care in these times, going to work fearful of bringing the virus back home with them; for students, adapting to online school and being anxious about what the future holds for them; for workers all around the world whose livelihoods are threatened; for the people with extremely limited protection from COVID-19; and for those with mental health conditions, experiencing greater social isolation and difficulty than before.

It is important to recognize this day for its purpose and utilize it the best way we can. Take this day to reflect and introspect on how you’re feeling, the changes you have endured over the past few months, and the growth you have experienced. Give yourself credit for how far you have come and be kind to yourself, just like you would to any other person.

Good Mental Health:

Good mental health is not just the absence of diagnosable problems, it is characterized by a person’s ability to fulfil a number of key functions and activities in a manner that doesn’t cause hindrance or difficulty to their or other people’s lives. Some of these functions are:

• The ability to learn;

• The ability to feel, express, and manage a range of positive and negative emotions;

• The ability to form and maintain good relationships with others;

• The ability to cope with and manage change and uncertainty.

Ways to Improve your Mental Health:

Use the following simple and practical steps to improve your mental health:

Talk About Your Feelings:

Contrary to oddly popular belief, talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It is a part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to feel and stay healthy. It can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been struggling with for a while. Being listened to by a loved one or even a stranger can help you feel supported and less alone.

If it isn’t easy to describe how you’re feeling, think or about what it feels like inside your head and what it makes you feel like doing. In case this method doesn’t work well for you, try journaling! It is important to express your feelings and emotions in a way that resonates with you.

Stay Active:

Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy. You don’t have to take part in an intensive sport or go to the gym to exercise; daily strolls, Yoga, and even household chores can keep you active. Try to incorporate an activity you like in your daily life.

Eat Healthy:

There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel. Food has a long-lasting and significant effect on our mental health. The brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay health and function well; a diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health. Eat colorfully (different types of fruits and vegetables, wholegrain cereals or bread, nuts and seeds) and drink a lot of water!

Take a Break:

A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time’ and indulge in self-care activities. Remember to do what feels best for you; this can be anything from meditation to painting to running to journaling to a long, fancy bath! Try not to get too caught up in what ‘should’ work for you, rather just focus on what truly does. Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give yourself time to sleep; sometimes, the world can wait.

Do Something You’re Good At:

Reconnect with an activity you’re good at or simply like doing. Indulge in activities you love doing, ones that you can lose yourself in, or even the ones you loved doing in the past. Self-enjoyment helps in beating stress; if you’re doing an activity you enjoy, it probably means you’re good at it and boosting your self-esteem. Take part in hobbies and interests where you don’t have to be what you aren’t. Go where and when you feel the most ‘you.’

Seek Help:

It is completely normal to get tired or overwhelmed by how you feel. If things are getting too much for you and you feel like you can’t cope, please ask for help. Confide in the people you trust; your family, your friends, your pets, your diary. Whoever. In case it is too much to handle and you feel yourself spiraling, seek professional help.

If that too is out of your hands, please use these hotlines: 800 46342 / 9200 33360 (UAE).

Watch What You Consume Online:

Social Media can be quite exhausting at times. It is important to watch what we consume on the internet. Go through the accounts you're following and remove anyone and everyone that doesn't serve your mental well-being.

Ask yourself:

• Does their content make me happy?

• Do they post negative and ignorant information? Are their posts uplifting or empowering? Do they make me happy?

• Does my feed or timeline exhaust me mentally?

Good Self-Care and Mental Health Inclusive Accounts to Follow:

@atticdiaries

@onourmoon

@wetheurban

@thelatestkate

@dearmyanxiety

@selfcareisapriority

@emotions_therapy

@what.is.mental.health