Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
Mental health shows the level of psychological and emotional well-being. Our behaviour is guided by our mental health at every stage of life. Healthy, sound and good mental health is a boon as it provides the ability to enjoy life. However, mental illnesses are very common these days. According to the WHO, nearly half of the world’s population are affected by mental illness with an impact on their self-esteem, relationships and ability to function in everyday life.
Physical and mental health complement each other: Physical and mental health are closely associated. Recent studies have proved that a number of physical illnesses actually root from a mental health problem. These are known as Psychosomatic problems.
The body and the mind are intricately connected: In other words, what you do to your body affects your mind. Physical conditions can directly cause symptoms of mental illness and vice versa.
Balanced Personality: From childhood to old age, mental health plays an important role in one’s life. Our personality, attitude, thought process and emotions are formed on the basis of our mental health condition. Therefore, it is important to take care of our mental health for a balanced and happy life.
Traditional mental health fitness outlook: From old times, yoga and meditation were included in our culture as a part of our lifestyle. It shows our understanding of the importance of mental health. Eventoday, yoga is considered as the best non-medicated treatment which aids in maintaining one’s mental health.
Modern life style: There is a general view that mental health problems are a result of modern lifestyle. But, mental health problems have always existed. The nature and severeness of problems however, may change overtime. In today’s fast paced life, the problem has become more predominant. Thus, more care and attention needs to be directed towards this topic.
Courtesy Dr. Rekha Rani, Chief of Psychology, AccioHealth
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