The Importance of Understanding Mental Health: A Basic Guide

16Sep 2020 by Tina Mueni 27 Comments

Mental health: can be defined as cognitive-behavioral emotional wellbeing. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave.

•Mentally healthy -as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and can make a contribution to his or her community

Outcomes of poor mental health: risky behavior, self-harm, stressful conditions, gender discrimination, social exclusion, unhealthy lifestyle, physical ill-health, and human rights violations.

Common conditions

  • Adjustment disorders(stress)

•Mood disorders- extreme moods that become maladaptive (depression and various types of depression)

•Anxiety disorders- extreme fear and worry

•Personality disorders-unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving

Symptoms to watch on mental health

  • Cognitive-thoughts thought content, patterns of thought
  • Belief system-physical/supernatural
  •  •Emotions-pleasant/non-pleasant
  • Emotions-pleasant/non-pleasant
  • memory-positive, negative memories
  • Vegetative symptoms-Sleep-inability to fall/stay asleep, few hours of sleep, Energy levels-low or hyper energy, Motivation-low motivation, Appetite-increased/decreased appetite

Common myths about mental health

• Exaggerated /false symptoms

  • Lack of sufficient  knowledge about mental health
  • The feeling that people  do not need help

• Exaggerated fear

• Understated symptoms- persistent symptoms may need your attention

Risky situations that make people vulnerable to mental disorders

  • Age
  • sex ( male and female)
  • unfavorable social conditions
  • social conflicts
  • unhealthy beliefs
  • unhealthy relationships
  • inability to cope with difficult events

How to take care of your mental health

  • Practice self-care (refer to symptoms)
  • Become aware of non-c0ping behaviors like risky decisions, lifestyle, and impulsive behavior, conflicts in relationships, experiencing stress, low self-esteem, negative emotions, and outbursts of anger.

• Problem Solve- identify the real problem and try to solve or seek help concerning it

  • Practice healthy patterns of self-care like; exercise, engage in a passionate activity, relax 30 minutes in a day, build yourself (care about your appearance, affirm yourself)- you will be able to socialize with others in healthier ways.

• Learn various ways of having fun and celebrating your achievements-go to a new place, buy something new, get a gift for yourself

  • Take moments to evaluate your plans in your personal life where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there

•Be with people that love you-to fulfill your social needs

•Mind your spiritual life

A reflection from the scriptures

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful

2Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of timidity but of love and discipline

 1 Peter 5:7 casting all our anxiety on him because he cares for you

Proverbs 17:2 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones

2 Corinthians 10:5 we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised against the knowledge of  God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Should you require help you can reach to us 

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