Mental Health must be part of the Healthy Everyday conversation. 40-Forwarders, have you ever heard this saying, “There is no good health without mental health?” Let that soak in for a minute. Mental health is not usually something we talk about around the dinner table or that comes up in everyday conversation. In this season that we find ourselves in however, mental health has been brought to the fore (front and centre).
Here is something shocking I found in my research, mental health problems are common and there are many who exhibit symptoms of mental illness, but don’t identify it as such (that it is mental illness). If this is indeed the case, mental illness is a clear and present danger that ought not to be ignored.
Mental health includes our psychological, emotional and our social wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Day-to-day functions become a challenge to someone with mental health issues.
40-Forwarders, let us be clear, right off the bat, that mental illness is not discriminatory, it affects young and old, male and female. Mental health is therefore very important at every stage (and age) of life.
So why must we include mental health in our Healthy Everyday plan?
What are some of the “early” signs of a mental health problem?
- Daily tasks become a challenge – not wanting to take care of yourself or those in your care.
- Severe mood swings which could in one instance result in fights with family and friends then in another instance withdrawal/isolation.
- Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, anger, worry, and unusual feelings of forgetfulness and confusion.
- Hearing voices and having bad recurring memories.
- Having low or perhaps no energy at all.
- Uncharacteristic (strange) behaviour.
- Excessive (or rarely) sleeping.
- Thoughts of harming oneself or actual self-inflicted wounds
Contributing factors to mental health problems could be biological (in ones genes), mental illness could be in a person’s bloodline (family history), and then there are those that are triggered by life’s experiences such as:
- Separation and isolation. We are all different, but one thing we all have in common is the need for social interaction (some more than others). The individual starts to feel lonely, then progress to extreme loneliness and then feelings of depression can set in.
- Traumatic experiences such as losing someone close to you or abuse (of any kind). Trauma is personal – what is a simple matter to one person can have serious psychological effects on another.
The GOOD NEWS is this, while mental health problems are common, one can get better and evidence shows that many have had complete recovery.
What Can We Do?
1) We have a saying in Jamaica, “Prevention betta dan cure” (Translated: It’s better to prevent something from happening than waiting until it happens then try to find its cure.) Practice good mental health. Top of the list, meditate on God (and His goodness towards you). Spend time with Him. Choose to see the “bright side” of things – think positive.
2) It is important that we know what are the anxiety and stress triggers? Is it perhaps the anniversary of the death of someone near and dear to you? Is it perhaps your home or work environment? Is it the bill collectors calling at the end of the month? Is it that you are reliving an accident or an abuse? What is it? Recognise it and deal with it.
3) Like with physical illness, the earlier you spot the mental illness symptoms, the better it can dealt with. Look out for those warning signs described above.
4) Check-in with people.
I have a rule of thumb, if someone crosses my mind, I immediately pray for that person. (Don’t underestimate the power of your prayer.) At the earliest opportune time possible, I will reach out. You best believe that if I can’t get the person on the phone, I will “hunt” them down.
5) How about sending some of your sunny disposition someone else’s way. 🙂 It may just be what the person needs. Send a “howdy do” with somebody to somebody. Rona V., really?! What are you getting at? Imagine, you are feeling (and saying), “Nobody remembers me and nobody cares about me,” and then the phone rings or there is a knock at the door …
6) Seek professional help if you must, whether for yourself or others – counsellors, pastors, therapists.
7) Get physical. Exercise is a great way to support our mental health. Get up and about and enjoy the outdoors (preferably).
8) Do you have some tried and proven coping skills? Share them with others. Teach others how to successfully manoeuvre the stresses of life.
9) A healthy lifestyle requires rest. Rest brings healing and rejuvenation.
10) Simply listen!
My dear 40-Forwarders, mental illness “nuh partial”. It can affect every and any body at any age. If mental health problems are detected, they should not go untreated. Early detection gives us a better fighting chance at winning the war against mental illness.
Let us do our part. Let us, get help for ourselves (put on our mask first) and also let us be there to support persons who may be going through this struggle (but for a season)!
Do you know anyone that could benefit from this post, please share? Have you had to deal with mental illness, feel free to share in the Comments?
