In today’s world, you hear the phrase “mental health” everywhere. It’s on social media, in news headlines, and even in everyday conversations. While this increased awareness is a positive step, sometimes a word can become so common that it starts to lose its true meaning, becoming just another buzzword. But mental health is far more than a trend; it’s a fundamental aspect of our overall well-being, just as crucial as physical health. It’s about how people think, feel, and behave.
What Exactly Is Mental Health?
So, what are we actually talking about when we say “mental health”? The World Health Organization (WHO) states that mental health is “more than the absence of mental disorders.” While managing mental conditions is part of it, peak mental health is about maintaining overall wellness and happiness. It’s about our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and act in our daily lives. It also determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Think of it this way:
- Emotional well-being refers to our ability to manage and express emotions in a healthy way.
- Psychological well-being involves our cognitive functions, such as thinking, learning, and problem-solving.
- Social well-being relates to our ability to connect with others and contribute to our communities.
When these aspects are in balance, we’re generally better equipped to navigate life’s challenges, pursue our goals, and find satisfaction in our experiences.
The importance of mental health
Understanding mental health goes beyond just defining it; it’s about recognising its profound impact on every facet of our lives. Mental health can significantly impact a person’s day-to-day life, relationships, and overall physical well-being. Stress, depression, and anxiety, for example, can dramatically disrupt a person’s routine and ability to function optimally.
Ways in which mental health affect us:
- It can impact our physical health. There’s a strong, undeniable link between your mind and body. For instance, chronic stress, anxiety, or depression can manifest as physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, or a weakened immune system. Likewise, underlying physical health problems such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain can contribute to the development of mental health disorders. Therefore, managing your mental health can lead to better physical health outcomes.
- It can affect our relationships. Our mental state directly influences how we interact with others. Good mental health fosters empathy, effective communication, and the ability to form strong, healthy relationships. When we’re struggling mentally, it can be harder to connect, leading to isolation or conflict.
- It can influence our productivity and performance. Whether at work, school, or in personal projects, our mental well-being impacts our focus, motivation, and problem-solving abilities. A healthy mind is a more productive and creative mind.
- It can shape our quality of life. Ultimately, mental health is about living a full and meaningful life. Looking after one’s mental health can help a person maintain their ability to enjoy life by balancing their activities, responsibilities, and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. When our mental health is compromised, our quality of life can significantly diminish.
- Lastly, mental health is universal. Everyone is at some risk of developing a mental health disorder, regardless of age, sex, or social and financial circumstances. This universality highlights the need for open conversations and accessible support.
Factors That Can Contribute to Your Mental Health
External factors in people’s lives and relationships can also contribute to their mental well-being. It’s not just about what’s inside our heads; our environment and experiences play a crucial role.
These factors include:
- Socioeconomic Pressure – Having limited financial means or belonging to a marginalised ethnic group can increase the risk of mental health disorders. This can be due to biases in healthcare, but also broader socioeconomic conditions like the availability of work in a local area, occupation, a person’s level of social involvement, education, and even housing quality. For instance, racial and ethnic minority groups often face disparities; for example, in 2021, Black adults in the U.S. were less likely (39%) to receive mental health treatment compared to White adults (52%), despite similar rates of mental illness.
- Childhood Adversity – Several studies report that childhood traumas such as child abuse, parental loss, parental separation, and parental illness significantly affect a growing child’s mental and physical health. There are strong associations between childhood abuse and other adverse events (known as Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs) and mental health disorders. These experiences also make people more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research indicates that experiencing four or more ACEs increases the risk of depression by 4-5 times and the risk of suicide attempts by 12 times.
- Biological Factors – The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that a person’s family history can increase the likelihood of mental health conditions, as specific genes and gene variants put a person at higher risk. However, having a gene associated with a mental health disorder does not guarantee that a condition will develop. Likewise, people without related genes or a family history of mental health conditions may still develop a mental health disorder.
Moving Beyond the Surface
The goal isn’t just to talk about mental health, but to understand it as an active, ongoing process of maintaining our well-being. This involves balancing our activities, responsibilities, and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. It means recognising when we’re struggling, knowing it’s okay to seek help, and fostering environments that support mental wellness for everyone. By moving beyond the buzzword, we can truly appreciate the depth and importance of mental health and work towards a society where it’s prioritised and destigmatised, allowing everyone to thrive.
So, in closing, the next time you hear “mental health,” remember it’s far more than a fleeting phrase. It’s a complex, vital part of what makes us human, influencing every aspect of our existence. Let’s continue these crucial conversations, breaking down stigmas and fostering environments where everyone feels empowered to discuss, seek help for, and cultivate their mental well-being.
Sources
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543#risk-factors
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/su/su7304a5.htm
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2464584/episodes/17219839-are-you-okay-mental-health-beyond-the-stigma
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