Why Is Mental Health Important
Mental health is essential because it is a vital part of our everyday lives and impacts our emotions, thoughts and behaviours. Good mental health promotes productivity and effectiveness in our day-to-day activities in school, work or home. It also plays a considerable part in how we build relationships, adapt to changes and cope with adversity.
“People often consider safeguarding their physical health, if you ask someone if they would consider carelessly walking into the road without looking, they would consider this reckless. When talking about safeguarding mental wellbeing people do not take the same care, yet mental wellness is the foundation upon which physical wellbeing is built.” – Jacob Nye – Registered Manager at Unique Community Services
We know by now that mental health is important, but knowing “the why” is always challenging to define. There are countless reasons why it is important to have good mental health. Creating an environment where you can have good mental health can help define and live a more fulfilling life. Furthermore, good mental health is important as it:
- Promotes self-love
- Boosts productivity
- Improves the development of relationships with oneself and others
- Builds healthy relationships
- Promotes strong immune system
- Allows for a better sleep
- Promotes good coping mechanisms
- Improves decision making
Since mental health is connected to multiple essential human functions, improving and working on your mental health can also improve how we live our day-to-day lives. Focusing on mental health care can lower the chances of developing other psychological or physical health conditions. Of course, the reasons why mental health is important aren’t limited but consider incorporating a few for your overall wellness care.
How Is Mental Health Connected To Physical Health?
Reports show that certain mental health conditions like anxiety or depression cause other physical symptoms that are otherwise unrelated to the underlying mental health condition. Poor mental health can increase the risk of developing a stroke, heart attack, or even diabetes. People with poor mental health can also develop chronic physical health issues, which can later, as a result, contribute to developing more serious mental health issues.
Factors like good sleep, exercise and proper diet can vastly improve and impact mental health. Conversely, lack of sleep or exercise can impede the ability to manage stress and contribute to developing anxiety or other somatic symptoms due to worrisome thoughts. It becomes a circular loop between physical and mental symptoms, making a strong point about why we should care for our mental health.
How To Maintain Mental Health Wellbeing
Because mental health is essential to general wellness, it’s important to take good care of it. There are a few practices that can help in maintaining mental health and wellbeing:
- Regular exercise
- Prioritising sleep and rest
- Learning new coping skills
- Keeping in touch with family and friends
- Trying mediation
- Maintaining a positive outlook on your life
Another thing to keep in mind to maintain mental wellbeing is through various talk therapies where you can learn new ways to interact with others and also learn new coping mechanisms that can help you in challenging situations.
Benefits of Good Mental Health
Mental fitness allows us to achieve a state of good mental health, similar to how physical fitness helps our bodies be strong. When we enjoy good mental health, we enjoy every part of our life, environment, and people. We get to be creative, take risks, try new things, learn, and cope with difficult situations. Some of the benefits also include the following:
- Improved productivity
- Creativity boost
- Improved social relationships
- Better quality of life
- Positive self-image
Taking care of your mental health is essential as it is vital for overall wellness. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to make many changes to maintain good mental health. Often, only a few lifestyle changes are needed to achieve good mental health.
What Is Mental Health Awareness Month
First recognised in 1949, mental health awareness month has never been more prominent than now as it recognises the massive role mental health plays in our overall wellbeing. The value of raising awareness and helping those in need is educating the public about mental health and reducing the stigma associated with certain mental health conditions.
Because of the stigma and discrimination around mental health, people often suffer in silence and don’t ask for help. Mental health awareness is a crucial initiative to improve the understanding of mental health conditions and to improve access to healthcare for those that need it most.
Mental Health Awareness Month is in May and is an excellent opportunity for outreach, fundraising and creating awareness events to help support research, break the stigma and find advocates that will lead us to a more promising future of mental health care.
What Can You Do To Raise Mental Health Awareness
Raising awareness can sometimes even be a simple conversation. Starting a conversation might be enough if you know someone who might need help or is having a challenging moment in life. Otherwise, we should focus on educating about the realities of living with a mental health condition and confront the inner feelings of judgement and stigma we may have.
Showing and giving support to people around us can spread the message of acceptance loud and clear. Raising awareness is not only about learning about mental health conditions but also about making a positive impact. Practising self-care and focusing on physical health through exercise and healthy habits are all a part of raising awareness. By raising awareness, we have the most powerful tool that can alleviate all misconceptions and stigma around people with mental health needs, and what is essential is that we always try to do so.
“Mental health is real and complex. We recognise that maintaining good mental health is not only crucial for employee wellbeing but also for their productivity and job satisfaction. We are committed to ensuring that our employees have access to the resources they need to maintain good mental health.” – Mable Mtambo, General Manager, Unique Community Services
We at Unique Community Services, are all about spreading awareness about the importance of mental health. We value our team members, our clinicians and the families we support and always strive to reach a positive outcome. Furthermore, our hard work and efforts we put in what we do allow us to be a Great Place for Wellbeing certified.
At Unique Community Services, We Are Focused on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Individuals
Our team at Unique Community Services is a team of open-minded people that will encourage you to talk about your mental health or the mental health of your loved one. Together we can break the stigma and make a difference in someone’s life.
“Our mental health should be a priority. Our happiness should be an essential. Our self-care should be a necessity.” – Carol Taylor ~ Registered Manager at Unique Community Services
We can help you track your progress and develop a positive attitude with the support of our professionals, that can assist you in overcoming any obstacle on your way and also build resilience. We are here when you are ready.
Contact us today and see how we can help.
