World Mental Health Day October 10, 2020
October 10 has been declared as the world mental health day by WHO. According to WHO, mental health is not only the absence of mental disorders but also involves the well-being of a person. Mental health is one of the most important health issues that is needed to be focused on right now. A mentally fit person is the one that can withstand a normal amount of stress, be productive, and focus on their contribution to the community. The level of our mental abilities is the only thing that separates us from animals and what makes us a “superior” race. The only reason that our species is functioning properly on this planet is because of our mental abilities, and to keep it going, it is very important to focus on mental health and keep the overall human population mentally healthy.
This year’s theme of mental health day by WHO is ‘Mental health for all’, which means that all the human population deserves mental treatment and awareness about it. It is a health awareness campaign where people can participate and learn about their mental health conditions and how to improve them if any exists. Around 1 billion people in the world are suffering from mental health issues, they might be unaware of that and not receiving any treatment. This is one of the reasons why it is neglected by people as there are no physical symptoms of it until it’s too late. So, WHO is focusing on awareness and trying to provide the treatment to as many people as possible.
What Causes Mental Health Issues
There are many causes of mental issues, it could range from high levels to mild and moderate levels. Anxiety disorder, Depression, bipolar disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Schizophrenia are some of the most common mental health disorders. The reason for any of the above could be genetic factors, environmental stress, and biochemical imbalances. Along with all these stress-causing disorders, the deficiency of Vitamin B is also one of the major causes of mental health issues.
In developing countries like ours, the budget spent on mental health is very low and almost 75% of the patients go untreated. Mental illness is not considered as illness and people still don’t consider it to be a real problem, however, it is the only issue of which almost 90% of the population is affected. Many countries including the developing countries spend only 2% of their total health budget on mental health.
How to Cope Up With Mental Health Issues
Mental Health issues and depression is the leading health issue that we are suffering from and to cope up with it, we need to focus on ourselves and use several self-help methods and medication to overcome this issue. Improving food habits, exercising regularly, and focusing on yoga and other mental exercises is the best cure for it. Have a look below at some points which will help in coping with the mental health issues.
- Consider Yourself Worthy: People with severe depression and mental health issues all have one thing in common and that is the lack of self-confidence. Value yourself and start your day with confidence and gratitude for life and try to be active in every task that you do.
- Work on Your Strengths: Do what you’re good at, practice any instrument, indulge in your favorite hobbies and improve your skills, this will help in improving your confidence.
- Adequate Sleep: It is important to get 6-8 hours of sleep every day. Proper sleep helps in relaxation of the body and thus relaxes your mind and body. Lack of sleep i.e. insomnia has an adverse effect on the mood of a person and can cause depression.
- Improve Food Habits: Eat healthy food and supplements, and try to maintain a good diet plan and follow it religiously. The presence of Omega 3 Fatty acids in your diet helps in decreasing the rates of depression and schizophrenia.
- Exercising: Yoga, meditation and exercising is a real stress buster and will help in overcoming all the mental health issues. Make sure that the exercises are regular and done only after taking some tips from the trainer or yoga experts.
- Avoid Smoking: To cope up with depression and mental health, it is very important to stop smoking. Usually, when we are stressed, we tend to divert towards smoking and smoke to relax, which should not be done.
A large number of people are suffering from depression and mental health problems. Rather than opting for medicines to cure, we should focus more on making our mental health better by changing our routines and habits. The above-given pointers contain some important tips to help improve your mental health. However, the best way to help improve your stress is to talk to someone about it. Talk to your parents, your partner, friends, and siblings about what you are going through and let it all out. It is proven that sharing your problems with the one you love and trust gives you mental peace and relaxes your anxiety and depression. So, look out after yourself and those around you and keep a check on the mental health of people around you and make people aware of how important it is to take care of our mental health.
Written By: Swapnil Bisht
Swapnil believes words are souveniers. Grumpy when woken from a slumber. Can be found quoting Bob Dylan or feeding dogs.