The WHO constitution states: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Mental Health
When one says health, it should not be with the exclusion of mental health. Often ignored, mental health is as important as all other aspects of health. Mental health is a state of well-being where an individual can reach his/her own potential while being able to healthily cope with stress and everyday life. It is more than just being okay. It is dealing with one’s emotions, understanding others as well as their own emotions.
With a positive mental health, one can deal with everyday obstacles easily. Anything minor won’t affect their mental state easily. One can balance all aspects of their life in a way that makes them feel fulfilled. Of course, an individual cannot always handle their mental health as it gets affected by different factors such as social, biological and psychological determinants.
Mental Illness
Mental health always exists, it just changes- positive or negative. It is like our physical health; we can say our illness has gone away but not health. Mental illness is different from mental health. But both on them lie on a continuum. Mental illness is when it affects the day-to-day functioning of an individual. It is more than being sad for some time, depressed over something for a few days. Individuals with mental illness may not feel in control of their lives. There are various types of mental illnesses such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc. Mental illnesses can be treated, but they have to be diagnosed and treated by a professional. There are certain risk factors such as our environment, some traumatic event, and the experience of mental illness can be different for everyone. It can be extremely challenging and difficult for some. For others, one may not even notice something- they are known as individuals with high functioning mental illness.
Being mentally healthy
Just like exercising and a good diet is necessary for physical health, there are certain things which must be done to be mentally healthy-
Take care of your body- Have a balanced diet, get sufficient sleep, be active, etc.
Practice healthy thinking- Sometimes our thinking patterns become such that we always criticize ourselves unnecessarily. In simpler words- Make a mountain out of a molehill. We have to recognize, and eliminate these patterns.
Slow down- We all have numerous things to do which overwhelm us at time. It is best to slow down by prioritizing things. Managing our time also helps in keeping everything under control.
Include some play- All work and no play makes one dull. It is necessary to include self-care, ‘me-time’ in your daily routine.
Reach out- Do not be scared to reach out to anyone in case you feel yourself spiralling.
Well-being
Our well-being is strongly affected by our moods, social connections, and emotions. Well-being constitutes a major part of our mental health, that is why it is necessary to maintain our well-being. Positive well-being has shown to have better outcomes such as better relationship, higher income, higher satisfaction, working towards new goals, etc. Connecting with people is one of the ways to balance our well-being. We may often disregard the fact that others affect our well-being. Good relationships with people help us build our self-worth, trust, self-esteem, etc. We have emotional support from people around us. This helps us maintain our well-being.
Being mentally healthy
That being said, our physical health and mental health are also interrelated. People with a severe mental illness are at a risk for several chronic physical conditions. It is also true vice versa. Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety often reduce chances of people participating in activities which help them maintain physical health. There are certain factors that impact both physical and mental health- poverty, unemployment, living conditions, race, caste, culture, etc. We often only find people advocating for physical health which again is only one aspect of health. Maintaining only one aspect does not ensure that you will be health overall.
Stigma in mental illness
Many a times, people don’t reach out/ hesitate to reach out because of the shame, and negative feelings attached around the word mental health. If you notice someone around you going through something and even personally, try to get help as soon as possible. Stigma can also arise in the form of labelling. Labelling is when an individual is defined as mentally ill. For example, saying ‘depressed individual’. It is appropriate to say an individual with depression to make him/her feel less burdensome. Stigma can also be in the form of:
Family/ friends refusing to acknowledge that an individual needs help
Being shamed for approaching a professional for help
Being told “it’s all in your head”
Being bullied, harassed regarding your mental health
Availability of fewer opportunities in terms of employment and social interaction
self-doubt – the belief that you will never overcome your illness or be able to achieve what you want in life.
What to do?
Some ways to deal with stigma are-
There are several mental health support groups. Being a part of such groups makes one feel they are not alone.
Try reaching out to people you trust. Hiding away makes it only worse.
Correct people who label you. Language has a lot of power. But you are not your illness.
Keep away from people’s judgement and advice. Judgement either comes from a lack of understanding or not wanting to understand, and they are preconceived. It is nothing against you personally.
Do not let fears stop you in anyway from getting your treatment. It is your right.
Though many are still confused—or unaware—of the differences between mental health and mental illness, times are changing. Despite the terms becoming more mainstream, there is still much to be done to help others understand that each impact everyone differently.
References
Stigma, discrimination and mental illness – Better Health Channel. (n.d.). BetterHealthChannel. Retrieved July 16, 2021, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/stigma-discrimination-and-mental-illness
What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov. (n.d.). Mentalhealth.Gov. Retrieved July 16, 2021, from https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
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