Mental health typically involves an individual’s social, psychological, and emotional well-being. It impacts the way we think, act, and feel while coping with life’s everyday stressors and issues. It also allows us to determine how we handle stress, relate to others, make decisions, and manage challenges on a day-to-day basis.
In the end, mental health is vital at every step of the way and in every stage of a human being’s life, whether you’re a teenager, adult, child, or an older person.
Sometimes, the hustle and bustle of everyday life will undoubtedly catch up with you, leaving you feeling stressed out, anxious, sad, and with a fear of the unknown. So naturally, such a thing will dramatically impact your mental health, and that too for the worse!
However, learning how to manage your emotions and getting through everyday challenges is crucial to improving and maintaining good mental well-being. Therefore, with that in mind, let us look at a few ways you can improve your mental health and help others around you do the same.
Know Everything You Can About Mental Health
Whatever people around you say, there isn’t enough information out there regarding mental health. However, improving your knowledge about mental health issues is a surefire way to identify your psychological shortcomings. After all, the more you know, the better you will be able to treat your symptoms.
That said, obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or psychiatry or any other mental health-related degree will benefit you tenfold. For instance, you’ll be able to determine how the human brain works and what affects its functioning.
Moreover, you can also advance in psychology if you’re already a practicing psychologist or mental health counselor. In the end, the benefits of improving your understanding of the human brain are endless.
But, the most significant aspect is that you’ll be able to determine the severity of your mental health issues and treat them accordingly.
Share Mental Health Screening Websites on Social Media Platforms
After educating yourself on mental health and rectifying your mental health issues, you can take things one step further by helping others do the same. An easy way to accomplish this is by sharing mental health screening websites on your social media accounts, whether Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or others.
After all, taking a mental health screening session is probably the best way to identify whether your symptoms, such as stress and anxiety, are due to underlying mental health issues.
Since mental health screenings are beneficial for everyone – whether you have mental issues or not- create a list of mental health screening websites and post them on your social media accounts. Doing so will spread awareness and offer your followers and friends an outlet that could change their lives for good!
Participate in Local Mental Health Advocacy Events to Support Mental Health Legislation
Policy change is an impactful method to make a difference and help individuals suffering from mental health issues. So, consider voting for potential candidates who go above and beyond to give mental health the attention it deserves.
Furthermore, you can also contact your local, federal, or state government officials and encourage them to recognize the dilemma around mental health awareness. After all, who knows, they might pass a legislation or policy change that will provide affected individuals with better access to mental health facilities and care.
Set Goals for Yourself and Help Others Do The Same
There is no better feeling in this world than the feeling of accomplishment. So whether you lose 10 kgs, save money for that car you always wanted, or get hired at a large organization, achieving your goals will boost your self-worth and self-esteem.
That said, one thing to remember while setting goals is to ensure they are realistic and achievable. While they should challenge you, they should also play towards your strengths. Moreover, ensure that you devote the effort and time required to achieve the mental health goals you’re setting.
For instance, if there is something you want to do, but you’re unsure if it’s realistic or not, consider trying it out first as a hobby.
Furthermore, encourage your friends, family members, or loved ones with goal setting to help them tackle their mental issues. If you know someone who has been suffering from a mental health condition for a long time, get in touch with them and help them set goals for themselves.
For example, if they like to listen to music, enroll them in a musical class. After all, music therapy is one effective way of improving your mental health well-being.
Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
Our brain is one of the busiest organs in our body, and it requires the appropriate fuel type to keep functioning correctly. Hence, eating a well-balanced, healthy diet consisting of food items rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins will help improve cognitive function and improve your mood in the process.
So, ensure that you’re taking your daily dose of whole grains, lean, protein, legumes, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables. However, notice that processed food items high in saturated fats ad refined sugars are not on the list.
In the end, don’t forget to ensure that you and your entire family are following the same healthy diet as you. That said, you can also try the Mediterranean diet if you’re looking for something more concrete than a simple list of what to eat and what to avoid.
Exercise Regularly
Everyone knows that regular exercise is an essential part of maintaining an ideal weight. Not to mention, it has provided tons of benefits to your heart. However, it would be best not to forget that exercise of any form of physical activity will also be good for your brain’s health.
After all, exercise promotes the release of endorphins, which help in relieving anxiety and stress. In addition, it also stimulates the release of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, which help regulate your mood.
So, ensure that you’re incorporating at least thirty minutes of physical activity into your daily routine every day. Doing so will help balance out your adrenaline levels, reducing stress in the process.
Conclusion
In the end, if your feeling stressed out, sad, or confined, talking to a friend, family member, or loved one will help you process your emotions more openly. Moreover, you can also ask them to do the same if they’re suffering from mental health issues themselves.
In the end, it will reduce the burden you and your loved ones are feeling. However, don’t underestimate the effectiveness of seeing a mental health professional such as a psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist!
Main Photo by Maksim Goncharenok.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
