why is mental health important. Mental health can be difficult to understand, even for those who know someone who is struggling. After all, it’s not something that tends to pop up in conversation often. However, it is an essential part of a person’s well-being.
Mental health encompasses your thoughts and feelings both short term (e.g., in the moment) and long term (e.g., over the longer term). If you have mental health issues, that does not make you any less of a person or any more of one either – it just means there is potential for improvement if you get help and support.
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Mental health plays a crucial role in maintaining well-being. It enables us to cope with the ups and downs of life, deal with change, and recover from adversity when needed. Mental health also has important implications for our daily lives, including at work and home; our relationships with family and friends; as well as our sense of self-worth.
What does mental health look like?
A person with good mental health can look and feel strong, even though they might be experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety. They might be optimistic, even when things look bad. They might be able to cope with life’s challenges, even though they have experienced trauma or adversity.
They might experience optimism about the future, and have goals and plans for their future. They might be able to maintain relationships with others, and even feel loved by others. They might have a good sense of self, and have a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives.
They might have a strong support network, and feel connected to others who care about them and want to help. They might feel in control of their lives, and have a sense of agency and ability to make choices and take action. They might have a strong sense of belonging, and feel at home in the world.
Why is mental health important?
Mental health is important for more than just how you feel, it is important for your overall well-being. Good mental health enables people to cope with stress, make good decisions, and live a happy and meaningful life. Mental health also has implications for our daily lives, including at work and home; our relationships with family and friends; as well as our sense of self-worth.
Mental health problems can be treated, and recovered from. People with good mental health are more likely to be successful in life. They are more likely to be happy, less likely to be affected by bad things in life, and less likely to commit crimes. Mental health is something we can improve.
It can be strengthened through regular exercise and healthy eating habits. It can be improved through support networks and self-help groups. It can be improved through talking about it and being open about your experience. And it can be improved by getting help.
Link between emotions, physical health and mental health
The well-being of an individual is strongly influenced by many factors, including their physical health. In many cases, a person’s mental health is linked to their physical health. The same is true of physical health and mental health. People with a healthy mind and body are more likely to experience good mental health. People who have a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a social support network are more likely to experience a healthy mind.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a disorder that causes an individual’s mood to swing from being very high, or hypomanic, to being very low, or depressive. People with bipolar disorder experience a period of mania (or hypomania) followed by a period of depression. There are many variations of bipolar disorder, and people may experience mood swings that are less severe than this.
There is no single cause of bipolar disorder. However, researchers are learning more and more about what contributes to the condition. Genetics play a large role, as do biological factors such as hormones and neurotransmitters. It is also important to recognize that people with bipolar disorder often have other mental health issues. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have anxiety or substance use problems.
Depression
Depression is a common condition that affects people of all ages and genders. Depression is characterized by an enduring low mood that interferes with a person’s daily life. It is often accompanied by a sense of sadness, hopelessness, or guilt.
People with clinical depression may attempt to avoid any activities that make them happy, or may feel tired or lethargic for most of each day. In addition to causing changes in a person’s thoughts and feelings, depression can also result in changes in a person’s behaviour, such as poor sleeping habits or poor dietary choices.
There are many different types of depression, and it is important to recognize that not all types cause people to avoid activities that make them happy. Some types of depression are associated with an increase in suicidal thoughts, which means that people with these types of depression must be closely monitored by a doctor and/or therapist.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety is a normal response to certain challenges that we all face. It is important to recognize these challenges, as well as your own ability to cope with them, and to reach out for help when you need it. Different people will experience anxiety differently, and likely experience it in different forms: physical symptoms, emotional symptoms, or both. People with anxiety are often preoccupied with worry or a fear about something that might not be a real threat.
They may feel on edge, or like they need to be doing something (e.g., avoiding situations that make them anxious, or trying to avoid the thoughts that make them anxious). Studies have shown that many people with anxiety have a physical reaction when they experience anxiety, such as a racing heartbeat or sweaty palms. Anxiety can also be experienced as an emotional reaction, such as feeling upset or disappointed with oneself or others, or feeling like you want to avoid doing something.
Stigma and discrimination
Mental health problems are stigmatized and stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental health issues contribute to their distress, marginalization, and reduced access to mental health services. People who have mental health problems are often subject to negative stereotypes and are often stereotyped as “less than,” “crazy,” “stupid,” or “abnormal.” These beliefs have been shown to contribute to increased distress in those who experience them.
The stigma associated with mental health issues is a barrier to accessing care. It contributes to the exclusion of people who are experiencing symptoms of mental health problems from the health care system and from the community. It contributes to the belief that people who experience mental health problems do not deserve support or understanding.
Conclusion
Mental health and physical health are inextricably linked. If you have a healthy mind, you are more likely to have a healthy body. But it’s even more important to take care of your mental health. Good mental health is important for every part of your life.
Mental health can be difficult to understand, even for those who know someone who is struggling. After all, it’s not something that tends to pop up in conversation often. But it’s essential for a happy, healthy life. Mental health is something we can improve by recognising our strengths and feeling supported by our friends and family. Mental health is something we can protect by speaking out against discrimination.