Why World Mental Health Day is Celebrated and its Importance

Mental health is something that is often ignored and not given as much importance as physical well being but it is just as important if not more. Mental Health constitutes our psychological, social and emotional well being. It refers to the behavioural, cognitive and emotional health of a person and affects how a person perceives things, reasons, thinks, behaves and feels. It also  influences how a person manages stress, interacts with people around him or her and how he or she makes important choices and decisions in life. 

Mental Health is something that affects us at every stage of life from infancy/young age to youth/teenage to later years of life. The term mental health is often used to describe the absence of a mental problem but that is not the case. Mental Health affects your relationships with your family, friends, your everyday life and even your physical and overall well being. Keeping your mental health in check is important for multiple reasons. It can help you stay balanced, manage your responsibilities effectively and persevere. Mental Health conditions like chronic depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and even stress can wreak havoc in your life and require diagnosis and proper treatment.  

What Is Mental Health?

Mental Health in simple terms can be defined as the cognitive, emotional and behavioural well being. It consists of your social,  psychological and emotional health. Sometimes people refer to mental health as a connotation for absence of a mental disorder. Mental health affects a person’s everyday life, how they behave with others, their relationships, and how they live. It is something that ensures our well being and is very important at every stage of our life. The Mental Health organisation says “Being mentally healthy does not only mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. If you are in good mental health you can:

• Make the most of your potential.
• Cope with your life.
• Play a proper role in your workplace, family and community.

Some people call mental health, emotional health or well-being and it is just as important as good physical health. Mental health is everyone’s business. We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass. But sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us.” 

In the year 1992, the World Federation of Mental Health recognised the World Mental Health Day on October 10. The federation was headed by deputy secretary general Richard Hunter at the time and decided that it’s necessary to advocate mental health and having a day dedicated to the same can be helpful. Ever since, The World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 every year and the theme for this year is “Mental Health in an Unequal World.”

How To Improve Mental Health?

There are many ways to boost your mental health and with more people and even some celebrities coming forward to talk about and spread mental health awareness it’s important to look after your mental health. Afterall, no one knows it better than you! Here are some effective ways to keep your mental health in check.

1. Address And Share Your Feelings

Often what we get to see is that people keep their feelings to themselves and suffer in silence. We all are going through something. It can be the loss of a loved one or a pet, a breakup or a divorce, not being able to achieve your professional goals or a million other things but you need to understand that whatever you are dealing with, you are not alone. We tend to say “Why me?” when we are facing difficult situations. During those times knowing that others have been there and made it to the other side can help. 

2. Stay Active

Another way to keep your mental health in check and mental illnesses at bay is to stay active and exercise daily even if it’s for 15 minutes. Working out boosts your self confidence and helps you stay balanced and coordinate better. It also keeps your body healthy and releases a chemical called dopamine in the brain which makes you feel good. For exercising you do not necessarily have to go to the gym. Taking a walk or running and even household chores can help. 

What Are The Early Warning Signs Of Mental Illness?

There is no plausible way, no proper test that can help determine if a person has a mental illness. One can never be sure if a person around them is suffering but there are some early warning signs that can help. Some of those are listed below:

• Not involving in social activities and/or withdrawing from family and friends.
• Sleeping a lot or not at all
• Eating too little or way too much
• Having very low or no energy
• Drinking or smoking too much or using other drugs like nicotine or cocaine
• Being confused, dizzy, very angry, irritated and scared
• Severe mood swings that cause extreme problems.

And with that we rest our case. We are sure by now you would have been convinced to take care of your mental health. If you want to keep your mental health intact then staying active is one of the best ways to do it. Start with your one pass to fitness- FITPASS and choose from 2,25,000+ workout sessions and 8,100+ gyms and fitness studios across the country.