When people think about wellness, we often only focus on the physical aspect of our health, but mental wellness goes beyond that. Our mind is vital to our daily life. Mental wellness shapes how we handle stress, build relationships, and make everyday decisions.
Mental Wellness Affects Every Part of Life
Imagine you are in an abusive relationship, and your partner is making you frustrated and mentally/physically hurt. You slowly start to get into drugs and self-harm. Abusive relationships are an example of a situation that can trigger you, and it is crucial to manage triggers to protect your mental health. When we care for our mental health, we can better manage stress. A healthy mind creates space for a better life, body, and career.
Highlights
- When you take care of your mental health daily, you can better handle stress.
- Beware of situations that can trigger you mentally and handle them before they escalate.
Mental Wellness Supports Physical Health
Positive mental health supports good physical health. Imagine you are feeling down and burnt out every day. You begin to feel unmotivated to work out or even cook healthy meals. Mental health can influence an individual’s drive to take an active role in their physical health. Furthermore, if you are feeling hopeless, you may not want to go along with treatments. Let’s talk about the positive. If you are feeling hopeful and promising inside, you are more likely to continue to do things that will keep you feeling good, like following treatments, working out and eating healthy. Mental health conditions can make it more challenging to handle chronic illness. Patients with mental health conditions have higher cancer mortality risks than others. Therefore, it is vital to care for your mental health for the benefit of your physical health.
Highlights
- Mental wellness gives you the drive to take an active role in your physical health.
- When you are hopeful, you are more likely to follow treatments, work out, and eat healthily.
Mental Wellness Fuels Productivity and Growth
Imagine if you are feeling anxious or depressed, it impedes your ability to be productive. However, when you are content, you are more productive. When you are productive, you can grow, which in turn positively impacts your mental health. It becomes a positive cycle, like a reward.
Key Highlights
- Anxiety or depression can make it hard to be productive and focused
- Mental wellness creates a rewarding cycle that is sustainable
- Feeling content improves productivity
Breaking the Stigma
For a long time, Mental Wellness and Health were not talked about openly, which led to people feeling alone. By talking about mental wellness, we reduce stigma and let others know it is okay to ask for help. Through breaking stigma, we create a safe space for people to know that mental health is essential.
ways you can join to break the stigma
- Talk openly about mental health
- Listen without Judgment
- Encourage seeking help by reminding others that it takes strength to do so
References
- Chierzi, F., Stivanello, E., Musti, M. A., Perlangeli, V., Marzaroli, P., De Rossi, F., Pandolfi, P., Saponaro, A., Grassi, L., Belvederi Murri, M., Fioritti, A., Berardi, D., & Menchetti, M. (2022). Cancer mortality in Common Mental Disorders: A 10-year retrospective cohort study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 58(2), 309–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02376-x
- de Oliveira, C., Saka, M., Bone, L., & Jacobs, R. (2022). The Role of Mental Health on Workplace Productivity: A Critical Review of the Literature. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 21(2), 167–193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-022-00761-w
- WebMD. (2023, September 23). How Does Mental Health Affect Physical Health. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-does-mental-health-affect-physical-health#1-1