Swarna KarmakarDefining mental illness is always easier than defining mental health. Recently, many people have begun to realize that mental health is more than just a lack of mental illness. Although many people have no diagnosable mental illness, it is clear that some are healthier mentally than others.
What is Mental Health?
The World Health Organization notes that mental health is not only the absence of mental illness but also a state of well-being in which people are able to cope with the normal stresses they face in everyday life. Mental health enables people to recognize their own abilities, work productively, and make significant contributions to their communities.
Mental health is not only related to emotional well-being but also the way people think and behave. Various factors have been found to influence mental health.
Life satisfaction
A person’s ability to enjoy life is often used as an indicator of mental health and well-being. It is often defined as the degree to which a person enjoys the most important aspects of their life.
Some of the factors that have been found to play an important role in life satisfaction. The factors are
- lack of bad feelings,
- good relationships,
- sense of belonging,
- activities at work and
- leisure time,
- sense of accomplishment and pride,
- A positive sense of self,
- feelings.
- autonomy and
- hope.
Continuity
The ability to let go of adversity is called “resilience.” People who are resilient also tend to positively rate their ability to face challenges and seek social support when they need it. Those who are more resilient are better able not only to cope with stress but also to develop better at coping with stress.
The support
Social support is important for good mental health. Loneliness has been shown to have a number of negative health consequences. It has been linked to physical and mental health problems, including cardiovascular disease, depression, memory problems, substance abuse, alcoholism, and altered brain function.
Decreased social support due to life changes, eg. Mental health problems, such as going to college, social difficulties, changing jobs, or divorce can all have a negative impact.
Fortunately, research shows that the number of support connections isn’t always the most important. What matters is the quality of the relationship.
Flexibility
High expectations can sometimes add stress. Emotional flexibility can be as important as cognitive flexibility. Sane people experience a variety of emotions and allow themselves to express those feelings. Some people overlook certain feelings and find them unacceptable.
Lack of psychological flexibility is associated with some types of psychopathology, while research suggests that increased flexibility is associated with better balance and survival.
Mental health problems
The risk factors
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that about one in five adults has a mental health problem each year. There are a number of risk factors that can increase the chance of poor mental health.
Mental health risks can include:
- Discrimination
- Trauma
- Family history of mental illness
- Low income
- Medical illness
- Poor access to health services
- Unwell
- Poor social skills
- Social inequality
- Substance usage
Factors that can help protect against poor mental health include supportive social relationships, strong coping skills, opportunities for community involvement, and physical and mental safety.
How to Stay Sane
It is suggested that some ways to improve and maintain mental health include:
- Regular exercise.
- Get enough sleep.
- Help others.
- Learn new skills for dealing with stress.
- Keep in touch with other people.
- Trying to maintain a positive outlook on life.
It’s also important to be able to seek help if you’re having trouble. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional if you want to improve your mental health or solve mental health problems.
At a glance
Mental health is more than the absence of disease. However, it is important to note that there are many factors that determine mental health and general well-being. Individual factors play an important role, but social, ecological, and financial conditions also interact dynamically with these individual factors in order to improve or harm mental health.
Sum Up
In this article, we discuss mental health, the responsible risk factors, how to stay mentally healthy elaborately. If readers like this article please share your valuable feedback with us. You can write your comment in the comment section below the article.
