Does Mental Health Matter?

Definition of Mental Health

According to American Heritage dictionary, mental health is "a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life".

Mental Health Takes a Backseat in Our Lives When Everything Goes Well

In a modern society with a hectic pace of life, we tend to neglect our mental health until a crisis unsettles us and affects our mental wellbeing. The current Covid-19 pandemic is a case in point in that it does have an impact on our mental health. If we'd been taking care of our mental health prior to the pandemic, it might not have unsettled us the way it apparently has, as evidenced by an increase in calls to mental health helplines.

 

Personally, I think that the more hectic life is, the more we could not afford to neglect our mental health. In fact, when life gets more hectic and more stressful, we should take greater care of our mental wellbeing. And in the process of doing so, we'd have built up our mental resilience, which is critical to have in times of crises.

Connection Between Body and Mind

There is an undeniable connection between the mind and the body.     For instance, when we're mentally stressed over a period of time, it will eventually show up in the form of physical ailments or in the worst-case scenario, it will manifest in the form of serious medical conditions. 

According to an article on https://www.newportacademy.com, our mental states can influence the functions of our organs. In other words, our mental wellbeing can affect our physical wellbeing. That being the case, we ought to prioritise our mental health as much as our physical health. Don't you agree?

What Can We Do to Improve Our Mental Health?

If we've been guilty of neglecting our mental health, it might be time to start looking for ways to maintain or improve our mental wellbeing. So what are some ways to improve our mental health? Let's take a brief look at a few ways:

1. Exercise 

Exercise can definitely improve our mental health. According to an article on https://www.mayoclinic.org, regular exercise could help to ease depression and anxiety by releasing feel-good endorphins and by taking one's mind off of worries. 

2. Music

Music has been proven to have immense value in terms of supporting a person's mental wellness.  Whenever I'm feeling really down, I prefer to seek solace in music because it has the power to lift up my mood.

3. Gratitude

Practising gratitude is said to improve one's mental wellbeing. When you practise gratitude on a regular basis, you tend to see life differently. Being grateful makes you view life more optimistically. And the practice of gratitude will give you more things to be thankful for. In a certain sense, that will put you in a perpetual state of wellness.

4. Quality Sleep

Sleep deprivation is probably a common ill in today's fast-paced life. Many of us, however, might think nothing of it. But having adequate quality sleep is actually a necessity, not a luxury. When our bodies are well rested, it leads to a better quality of life. Conversely, when we don't get adequate sleep, it could lead to mental health issues such as depression.

Has the Covid-19 Pandemic Jolted Us into Taking Action for Better Mental Health?

The current Covid-19 pandemic that has been ongoing for nearly two years now has disrupted our normal way of life, thereby forcing us to change the way we live and work. As a result, it has put a lot of unnecessary stress on our minds.

Has the pandemic jolted us into taking our mental wellbeing seriously? I think it's yet to be seen, but I certainly hope that it has served as our wake-up call to take care of our mental wellbeing as much as our physical wellbeing. So let's learn to take good care of both our bodies and our minds. Shall we?


Cheers,

Annie Chan

(P/s: My next blog post will be published on 26 November 2021. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel here: Annie's Music Everywhere. Thanks!:)

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