Mental health and its importance ..

Recently I happened to read an HBR article on mental health titled How to talk about your mental health with your employer. (click here). That was the time really I got to know how important is mental health to anyone's life, as much as physical health. 

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood - www.mentalhealth.gov (click here)

I have been very bothered about physical health, over the years especially backache that used to bother me every six months on an average. But never have I thought of how important mental health could be to a person's health.

Earlier days, around seventy to eighty years back, with a low standard of living in the country, the daily stress for individuals and families usually was on how to make ends meet. Any physical illness would put the family into great difficulties and hunger and require young members to stop education. 

But with improved standard of living, people are not stressed much to earn their daily food and have more leisure time and engage in more intellectual activities, mental health is an important thought that is getting into our minds. Our minds are in the search for more happiness and this search makes us aware of the drawbacks, wanting to achieve more and take care of our needs, in the process leading to more feelings of incompleteness and discomfort. 

These are the things I usually do when I need some relaxation and look after my mental health.

• take a brisk walk of a couple of kms around the house in the evening 
• walk to the nearest hotel or tea shop to have a coffee (especially while in hostel or staying as bachelor) 
• read something light, or reply to whatsapp messages
• planning for a small vacation
  
• write a blog on an interesting thought bothering me for sometime 
• call my siblings or father for a chat
• have a small cup of sweet yoghurt
• read Harvard Business Review for some insights 
• do some stretching exercises for the body, which also relaxes your mind
• be thankful to God for the many blessings received
  

Some others will have a different way to relax and feel free.

UK mental health foundation mentions ten points for mental health (click here), I find these points are very sensible, 

• eat good food, 
• ask for help, 
• take a break, 
• accept who you are 

are some of the interesting tips I found beneficial.

The US mental health agency Mental Health America (click here)  lists 31 tips for better mental health. Besides the above four , 

• spending time with a furry friend, 
• explore your neighbourhood, 
• sending a thank you note to someone from whom you have received some help
  
• taking 20 minutes sunshine 
  
• practice forgiveness 

are some of the other points that I found can really give one lot of mental peace and promote active mental health. 

Whatever be it, the Harvard article was very insightful and no wonder it is a great leader in personal and societal improvement suggestions and management. 

George.