"You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle." — Julian Seifter
What is Mental Health ?
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and so it can affect how we think, feel, and act. Mental health can alter our daily living, relationships, and physical health; it is very important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same; people can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness.
Mental health problems can have a wide range of causes, for example: childhood abuse, trauma, loneliness, discrimination, poverty, stress or unemployment.
According to Better Health, some mental health issues are:
•anxiety disorders: is a group that includes generalised anxiety disorders, social phobias, panic disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder;
•bipolar affective disorder: a person with this disorder experiences episodes of mania, elation, and depression;
•depression: is a mood disorder characterised by lowering of mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and reduced energy;
•Psychosis: people affected by psychosis can experience delusions, hallucinations and confused thinking.
Bc Mental Health & Substance Use Services drew up a bunch of tips that can help a person elevate the mood, become more resilient and enjoy life more:
-Make social connection, especially face-to-face time with people, especially those you love and people who energise you.
-Talk to a friendly face. If you have concerns, stresses or worries, sharing these with someone who cares is one of the most effective ways to calm your nervous system and relieve stress.
-Take up a relaxation practice like yoga, mindfulness, meditation and deep breathing can help reduce overall levels of stress.
-Make leisure and contemplation a priority, take some time to relax, contemplate, and pay attention to the positive things as you go about your day.
-Don’t skimp on sleep. It matters more than you think. Sleep is our body and mind's best way to recharge and rejuvenate.
-Find purpose and meaning, for example: engage in work that makes you feel useful, invest in relationships and spend quality time with people who matter to you or think of one good deed or gesture to do each day.
“Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step” -Mariska Hargitay
MAKE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY!
Author:
Simona Concolino, a young JUMPER!
