October 10th this year has been designated World Mental Health day, a global initiative to raise awareness of an often stigmatised subject. The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to show that mental health is just as important as physical and hopes to provoke discussion as well as to raise funding for services to prevent and treat mental health issues. WHO defines health in a holistic way, meaning not only should you be free from disease and infirmities but also feel good on the inside, emotionally and socially.
Good mental health can be defined as a state of well-being in which an individual is aware of their capabilities, can cope with everyday stresses, work productively and contribute positively to society. It’s the foundation for healthy individuals and communities.
WHO estimates that over 450 million people worldwide have mental health problems, the most common of which are depression and anxiety.
Mental health can be affected by emotional strains like relationship problems, negative experiences such as redundancy or genetic factors if there is evidence of a family history.
It’ a normal part of life to experience stress and fear but occasionally these feelings can develop into more serious conditions such as depression or phobias. When this happens a person’s quality of life can suffer immensely as well as those around them.
The Mental health foundation has these tips for maintaining a healthy outlook;
- talk about your feelings
- keep active
- eat healthily
- keep in touch with friends and loved ones
- take regular breaks
- do something you’re good at and enjoy
- accept who you are
If you feel you could benefit from talking about an issue that is impacting on your life the Body & Mind Centre offers a number of ‘talking therapies’; counselling, CBT and hypnotherapy. All of which help you to explore your feelings in a non-judgemental environment. If you’d like to know more then don’t hesitate to phone or email the centre and we can provide you with all the information you need.
