Mental health

Mental health describes a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder. From the perspective of 'positive psychology' or 'holism', mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. Mental health can also be defined as an expression of emotions, and as signifying a successful adaptation to a range of demands.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". It was previously stated that there was no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.

 There are different types of mental health problems, some of which are common, such as depression and anxiety disorders, and some not so common, such as schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder.

Most recently, the field of Global Mental Health has emerged, which has been defined as 'the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental health for all people worldwide'.

Emotional mental health improvement

Being mentally and emotionally healthy does not exclude the experiences of life which we cannot control. As humans we are going to face emotions and events that are a part of life. According to Smith and Segal, “People who are emotionally and mentally healthy have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook in which also remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good” (2011). In order to improve your emotional mental health the root of the issue has to be resolved. “Prevention emphasizes the avoidance of risk factors; promotion aims to enhance an individual’s ability to achieve a positive sense of self-esteem, mastery, well-being, and social inclusion” (Power, 2010). It is very important to improve your emotional mental health by surrounding yourself with positive relationships. We as humans, feed off companionships and interaction with other people. Another way to improve your emotional mental health is participating in activities that can allow you to relax and take time for yourself. Yoga is a great example of its meditating aspect which calms your entire body and nerves. According to a study on well-being Richards, Campania and Muse-Burke found, “mindfulness is considered to be a purposeful state, it may be that those who practice it believe in its importance and value being mindful, so that valuing of self-care activities may influence the intentional component of mindfulness” (2010).

Mental Health: Coping with Chronic Illness and Depression

Coping with Chronic Illness and Depression

Living with a chronic illness is a tremendous challenge. Periods of grief and sadness are to be expected as you come to grips with your condition and its implications. But if you find that your depression persists, it is important to seek help. While you get treatment, experts offer these lifestyle tips:

1. Try not to isolate yourself. Reach out to family and friends.
2. Learn as much as you can about your condition. Knowledge is power when it comes to getting the best treatment available, and maintaining a sense of control.
3. Make sure that you have medical support from experts you trust, and can talk to openly about your concerns.
4. If you suspect that your medication is causing you to be depressed, consult your doctor about alternative treatments.
5. If you are in chronic pain, talk with your physician about alternative pain management.
6. As much as is possible, remain engaged in the activities you enjoy. Stay connected with your community.

Source:

WebMD Medical Reference. Coping With Chronic Illnesses and Depression. 2007.

Mental Health: Put Yourself on Your Priority List

Do you make resolutions to improve yourself, but never stick to them? It's all too common. But maybe your reason for not sticking to resolutions is not lack of will power, but a failure to prioritize your own well-being.

Many people, women especially, find themselves caring for others, while neglecting themselves. We get wrapped up in the daily demands of activities such as work, child care, tending to an aging parent and upkeep of the house and lose ourselves.

Thoughts that indicate you may be too far down your own priority list include telling yourself that "other people's problems are more important than your own" or that "I can't stand it if someone gets upset with me."

If you suspect that your sacrificing your own well-being to accommodate other people's needs and demands, it may be time to make a change.

To do this, make a list of your own priorities. These are the things that are important to you, deserve your attention and make life meaningful and fulfilling. They can include your spiritual needs, your need for intellectual growth or your health and wellness needs. Once you've made your list, identify your top three priorities.

Now make a similar list, but this time, focus on those needs and demands of others that you find take up your time and energy and take you away from focusing on your own priorities. You may want to jot down items as you go through a typical day. Notice demands, such as washing dishes, mundane tasks at work, volunteer work, responding to email and preparing meals. Once you've made your list, identify three or more tasks that you can simply not do (sometimes we get stuck doing things because we feel we "should" but no real harm will come from skipping them) and those you can give to someone else.

Giving unwanted tasks to someone else can be difficult, but it is possible. Initially you may get some flack, but you can ease your load, say by training your children to clear the table and load the dishwasher, negotiating with a spouse to pick up some of the household chores or delegating some tasks at work.

Once you have given up some of those demands from others, be sure to replace them with your own priorities. Making a new habit takes time. Pay close attention for several weeks, to ensure that new demands don't creep up on you. Once you've made a habit of including yourself on your priority list, you'll be better able to say 'no' to other people's demands that interfere with your ability to take care of yourself.