A Brief Overview of Mental Health and Well-Being
Mental health, defined by the World Health Organization, is “a state of mind in which the person realizes his/her abilities, is able to cope effectively with the demands of life, is able to work productively and successfully, and can contribute to his or her society”. Mental health consists of five elements: self-esteem, knowledge, cognitive ability, personality, and physical health. It is also the state in which we learn to control our emotions and thoughts. The first element of mental health is self-esteem. It can be described as how much you believe in your own capabilities. Self-esteem is important because it helps us in maintaining a positive attitude towards everything – success, failure, love, or anything that matters in life.
Knowledge is the foundation of healthy mental health. It refers to general knowledge about psychology, but it also includes knowledge regarding the specific components of mental disorders. General knowledge can facilitate preventive interventions against such problems as alcohol and drug abuse, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, psychosis, and schizophrenia.
Cognitive ability is considered the second fundamental element of mental health. It refers to the ability to perform any task, regardless of your current ability, without thinking about or concentrating on the information that you need. Most often, cognitive ability is impaired by the presence of many people who are distracting. One effective way of increasing your cognitive ability is by working with others, learning a new hobby, or engaging yourself in mentally stimulating activities such as reading books.
Thirdly, experience mental health problems when you’re alone, rather than when you’re surrounded by friends and family. When you are lonely, you may have negative thoughts that will keep taking over your mind and make you want to wallow in isolation. Your mental health is fragile and needs your attention, support, and help from those closest to you. Lack of social support can cause you to experience mood swings and other symptoms that affect your moods and your physical health.
Finally, do not underestimate the role that primary care providers can play in your overall mental health. If you get help early, when the condition is still in early stages, it will allow your physician to address the matter before it gets worse. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your primary care provider, and share with him or her the events in your life that have led up to your current situation.
These are the basics of your mental health and well-being. The next step is to learn more about how mental disorders develop and the best ways to treat them. You can find information online, through your primary care provider, and by attending seminars and workshops on the topic. You can also purchase books or DVDs that cover the subject as well as stay-at-home guides. As you learn more, you will be able to better care for yourself and be on top of your health issues.