Mental health: what is the concept?

How have you been taking care of your mental health?

So, what exactly is mental health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is characterized by a state of well-being in which a person is able to enjoy life, work, and contribute to their environment while managing their own emotions.

In general, mental health means being able to deal with both positive and negative feelings in the best way possible. It's the balance between emotions and actions.

This shows how mental and physical health, despite being distinct, are interconnected and, when misaligned, can cause serious harm to the individual. After all, a healthy mind in a healthy body.

The importance of Yellow September for mental health.

First launched in Brazil in 2015, the Yellow September campaign was created with the goal of raising awareness about ways to prevent suicide.

Chosen for World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th), over the years, awareness has gained increasing importance and, nowadays, in addition to addressing this main theme, the month also serves to stimulate discussion about mental health and how factors such as depression and anxiety should be treated with due attention.

Throughout the month, actions promoted by the Center for Life Appreciation (CVV), the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry (ABP), and the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM).

This is because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is already the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29.

This shows how important it is to maintain good mental health.

Mental health at work

CONTINUE

The effects of the pandemic and social isolation.

Recently, society has faced – and is still facing – an invisible enemy. The COVID-19 pandemic is, so far, the worst moment the world has faced this century, and in addition to claiming millions of lives worldwide, it has also caused damage to our mental health.

After the official declaration that we were living through a pandemic, back in March 2020, the terms "social isolation" and "lockdown"Measures were adopted and the world went into quarantine, which, at first, we expected would last a maximum of 1 month."

But the situation unfolded in a way that none of us expected.

By adopting social isolation, everyone's routine changed drastically. This caused the way we used to relate to people to change as well.

Physical contact and interactions have given way to working from home and virtual meetings via video calls.

This change in routine, along with the unprecedented situation the world was facing, served to trigger crises of depression, anxiety, and panic, making them increasingly common even in people who, until then, had no history or episode involving these illnesses.

Furthermore, during the pandemic many of us had to deal with factors such as: grief over the loss of a loved one, job loss, and uncertainty about the future, which became constant triggers in our daily lives.

How to maintain good mental health.

We know that maintaining well-being in the modern world is increasingly difficult. Since it's impossible to escape our daily commitments and everyday problems, we must learn to balance our priorities so that we can always put our health first.

Among the things you can do to take care of your mental health are:

You are what you eat.

In addition to harming your physical health, a diet based on processed foods full of preservatives has a negative impact on our emotional state.

Therefore, we need to pay more attention to what we consume.

Make room for good relationships.

It may not seem like it, but the people around you can have a direct influence on your mental health. Therefore, it's essential that you carefully choose the people who are part of your life and, if you notice any sign that a certain 'friendship' is no longer good for you, don't hesitate to distance yourself.

Healthy mind, healthy body.

Remember what I said at the beginning of the text? Healthy mind, healthy body. By exercising frequently, you encourage your body to produce hormones responsible for regulating mood and well-being.

Prioritize what truly matters.

In a world where things change so quickly, it's essential to stay focused and prioritize what truly matters: yourself!

When we take ownership of our lives, we learn to better manage our emotions and needs. It might seem like a strange tip, and even sound a bit selfish, but it's not.

Define your life goals and objectives.

It might seem like a silly tip, but it makes a lot of sense. By setting clear and direct goals for your life, you are giving yourself motivation.

They don't need to be grandiose goals or anything like that. Just think about what you want to feel fulfilled and consider the paths and actions necessary to achieve that goal.

The power of therapy

And last but not least: go to therapy. Depending on your lifestyle, you may find it difficult to make certain changes.

In these cases, seeking professional help can make all the difference in how you see the world.

These are just a few of the countless actions we can incorporate into our daily lives to take care of our mental health.

These practices will help make our relationships – both interpersonal and intrapersonal – healthier, bringing more positive aspects to our routine and, consequently, teaching us to better manage our emotions and thoughts.

The secret lies in discovering what brings us satisfaction and what makes us feel good, contributing to our well-being and giving us a better quality of life.