According to a CDC Data of 2020,
1 out of 5- US adults experience mental illness every year.
1 in 6- US youth aged 6-17 battle a mental disorder every year.
40% of- the US adult population suffers from mental health or substance abuse-related issues.
$210.5 Billion- Cost of depression alone in the US.
And that’s why,
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
It matters to families, networks, and communities. It matters to societies, states, and cultures.
Promoting and maintaining positive mental health is one of the most important challenges we face. Only recently the world has realized the importance of mental health. Today mental health is a topic of intense debate and research. The world realizes how it affects every sphere of our lives.
When mental health is affected, your whole life is affected. It becomes difficult to enjoy the special moments and feel true happiness. Personal and professional relationships begin to suffer. This is why it’s about time we understand why mental health comes before everything else.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is the sum of a person’s emotional and psychological well-being. It is often used to address the absence of any mental disorders. However, true mental health is not judged by the lack of disorders. It involves:
- the ability to relax,
- the capacity to enjoy life, and
- the ability to adapt to the changes in life.
The four basic aspects of mental health and well-being are:
1. Ideas and Thoughts
The way we think is an important aspect of our mental health. Thoughts change from positive to negative along with our mental health.
2. Physical Reaction
Physiological reactions like heartbeats, blood pressure, and sweating are also affected by our mental health.
3. Feelings and Emotions
Emotions form an important dimension of mental health. They decide how we analyze and react to different situations.
4. Habits and Behaviors
Our mental health reflects in our habits and behaviors. It influences how we react to our surroundings.
Why does Mental Health matter?
For a long time, mental health has been surrounded by stigmas. People having mental disorders were labeled crazy and freaks. As a result, voices were silenced. People refused to speak up and share their mental health stories.
With no proper help, mental health disorders increased over the years. During the pandemic, the number of anxiety and depression patients increased by 25%. That is a huge increase! This once again reminds us why mental health matters.
We are all humans, and it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel down after a hard day. It’s okay to fall apart on some days.
Somedays, it’s okay to not be okay.
Here are the reasons why your mental health matters above everything else:
1. It affects your physical health
Physical health and mental health are deeply interrelated. People suffering from mental health disorders tend to be more prone to mental health problems.
The connection between the body and mind works deeper than we think.
Some people with severe mental disorders tend to suffer from stomach pains. Mental health is believed to affect:
- Digestive System,
- Functioning of the heart, and
- Sleeping patterns
2. It affects self-image and esteem
Mental Health affects how you see yourself every day. Having a mental disorder might make you feel less confident. It directly affects your self-esteem. Mental health matters because it builds your confidence.
A friendly reminder that your mental disorder does not define you. It’s not your identity. You are worthy and awesome.
3. It affects the people you love
Your mental health affects everyone around you. It affects your ability to have healthy relationships. It decides how you feel happiness and share it. Your mental health creates ripples in the lives of everyone you love.
4. It affects your productivity
Mental health and productivity are closely related. A bad mental state affects your concentration negatively. You are constantly tired and unable to focus. On the other hand, a good mental state allows you to work at your best potential. It makes you more productive and focused.
Mental Health Helpline Numbers
As a world, we are proud of our strength and courage. We believe in independence. This has shaped us into people who can get a little prideful and stubborn at times. It has created an unsafe space where people refuse to ask for help even if they want to. For some reason, we believe weakness will bring us down.
We all have moments when we can’t do it alone. There are moments when the voices in our heads get louder than we can handle. Strength is not in suffering alone. Strength is not just internal. It comes from our surroundings and the people we meet. Strength is accepting that you need help.
Strength is realizing;
It’s absolutely okay to seek help.
It’s okay if you can’t relate to family members and friends. Sometimes the person you need is a stranger. 24×7 Mental Health Helpline Numbers are among the safest spaces to ask for help. They provide a human connection that helps you talk freely about your problems.
If you are looking for a sign from the universe to talk to someone or get help, this is it.
Mental Health matters Quotes
Sometimes, it’s easier to understand things when we hear them from the people we look up to.
To remind you of why mental health matters and get you started, we have listed the best mental health matters quotes.
- “We’re well-equipped to break and mend, mentally as well as physically.”
- “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”
- “The conversation needs to be louder”
- “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
- “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.”
Conclusion
We hope by now you realize why your mental health matters. The next step is to develop good mental health habits. Healing is not a linear process. It has bumps at every point. On some days, you might feel you have come so forward, and the next day the progress might feel stagnant. However, what you need to do is to keep trying. You need to believe in yourself that you have the strength to get through this.
Your mental health matters. What you feel matters. We need to be open and willing to talk about mental health issues. Your one step toward sharing your story makes someone else’s life easier. To learn more about mental health, subscribe to Your Mental Health Pal.