Did you know that one in five adults in the U.S. experience mental health issues each year?
This is just one of the many shocking statistics regarding mental health or mental illness. With just this one, though, we can already see how many people’s lives are influenced by mental illness.
Sadly, though, there remains quite a significant stigma regarding anything concerning mental health. This makes it so much more important that we recognize the importance of good mental health for our overall well being.
The Importance of Mental Health
Taking good care of our mental health matters because it is connected to nearly everything we do.
Our mental health affects nearly every aspect of our lives — from how we think and what we feel to how we act to our quality of life. What we feel on a daily basis affects how we act, the choices we make, how we cope with stress, and more.
Aside from affecting our emotional, psychological, and physical health, poor mental health also affects our social well-being. It plays a crucial part in how — or whether — we interact with other people and form relationships.
Give to Yourself, Give to Others
If you’re going through a difficult time, you may believe that taking care of your own mental health is “selfish.” In reality, it is quite the opposite. When you’re in a positive state of mind, you have the energy and resources to give to others more than you could before. Besides that, overcoming your own mental health concerns will put you in a place where you can help others who went through the same things.
Healthy Mind for a Happy Life
When we are mentally stable and healthy, we are able to enjoy our life to the fullest. We appreciate our environment and the people around us more. We are able to be more creative, and be in the right mindset to learn, try new things, and take risks.
Most importantly, we are better able to cope with the stress, uncertainties, and difficulties we experience in our personal and professional lives.
Having positive mental health helps us:
- Improve our mood
- Lower our anxiety
- Prevent suicidal thoughts
- Improve our self-confidence and self-esteem
- Think faster and more clearly
- Achieve inner peace
Getting Help and Coping
As mentioned, there is still some stigma surrounding mental health concerns, and this is especially the case when it comes to getting help. Sometimes we even do this to ourselves, where we believe that help makes us weak.
It’s important to remember that getting help is always okay. Everyone will need help at some point in their lives, and there is absolutely no shame if you are in that place now.
Here are some ways you can cope and get help:
- Reach out to friends, family, coworkers, and other people in your life for emotional support.
- Read up on and learn more about mental health so you can recognize signs and symptoms better.
- Take an online or in-person mental health assessment.
- Consult a mental health care professional, such as psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health counselor.
- Find and practice healthy coping mechanisms that work for you, such as taking a walk, playing an instrument, or reading a book.
- Join a support group to meet people currently or previously in similar situations.
You Deserve to Feel Better
We can’t deny that our world today is becoming increasingly chaotic. Amid such chaos and uncertainty, today is exactly the right time to take action and protect your mental well being.
After all, even if you don’t believe it, you deserve to live a better, more fulfilling life.
If you suspect a decline in your mental health or simply feel overwhelmed over everything happening around you, don’t delay speaking with a healthcare professional or a loved one.
Reaching out for support today is the key to feeling better tomorrow.