On the 10th of October each year, the World marks World Mental Health Day.
However, most of us do not understand the significance of mental health since we view mental health as sanity.
Even, the soundest people experience mental health issues in life because each stage in life comes with different successes and challenges.
Therefore, the way we handle our daily activities and experience impacts our mental health.
What is mental health?
Mental health is a position of mental well-being, which helps an individual deal with stress while still identifying their ability and contributing to the community.
Mental health comprises emotional, social, and psychological well-being that affects how an individual feel, acts, and thinks.
Thus, a mentally healthy person can make valid decisions, develop a relationship and perform communal and personal responsibility.
Nonetheless, some factors such as the family history of mental health issues, life experiences like trauma, and biological factors like brain chemistry triggers mental health condition.
Mental health condition encompasses psychosocial disabilities and mental disabilities leading to random stress, risk of self-harm, and functional impairment.
Some of the main mental health disabilities include depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and drug abuse.
What is the importance of mental health?
Mental health is important since it plays the main role in an individual’s ability to sustain good physical health.
Mental health is important as it regulates the behavioral and emotional changes we constantly experience.
Mental health enables the public to understand their behavior and how their action affects their response and thoughts.
Through mental health, patients can stabilize their constructive behavior which enhances the code of conduct.
It is important to understand mental health since it is the leading cause of mental and behavioral disorders.
Besides, understanding your mental state is important since mental health problems cause physical diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Why are mental health concerns on the increase?
Mental health conditions are on the increase due to social media.
As we live in a fast-paced modern world, which requires us to pay more attention to new technology and lifestyle we need to think of ourselves.
We tend to spend most of our time on the internet, which is slowly disconnecting us from our reality.
Social media gives people the chance to show off fake lifestyles through filtering and editing photos and videos.
Most people especially the youths and adolescents that cannot afford flashy clothes, and lifestyles tend to be stressed as they compare their real life to what they see online.
We should create time for our mental health, time for us to embrace ourselves with all our defects and not compete on social media.
No one has the best life, we all miss something and we have learned to cope with our inadequacies.
Therefore, we should not let social media dictate how we live.
Mental stability is a vital aspect of life that needs to be protected always.
There are several factors that may contribute to an increase in mental health concerns. These include:
Stress: Stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one, a divorce, or financial problems, can have a significant impact on mental health. Chronic stress can also contribute to the development of mental health problems.
Social isolation: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased social isolation for many people, which can have a negative impact on mental health.
Lack of access to mental health care: In some cases, people may not have access to mental health care or may not know how to seek help for mental health problems.
Stigma: There may be stigma surrounding mental health problems, which can prevent people from seeking help or talking about their experiences.
Environmental factors: Environmental factors, such as pollution and trauma, can also contribute to mental health problems.
It is important to prioritize mental health and seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues. There are many effective treatments available, such as therapy, medication, and self-care strategies, that can help people manage mental health problems and improve their overall well-being.
