The Importance of Mental Health




Mental health is a major problem in the United States, as evidenced by terrible statistics. When we consider that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in every five adults suffers from a mental health illness at some point during the year, it's difficult to dispute that we need to make mental health awareness a higher priority.

Unfortunately, anything related to mental health has a big stigma, which is why it's critical that we recognize effective mental health initiatives and try to eliminate the hurdles that have been erected to prevent us from treating mental health in a positive, constructive manner. To best address your needs, you should give yourself permission to check in to yourself and examine your entire mental health on a frequent basis.

Mental health awareness is one of the most serious challenges affecting the healthcare industry as a whole, which is why there is a national campaign to raise awareness about mental health every May. Fighting the stigma, offering support and resources to those who are struggling and their loved ones, and campaigning for policy changes are all important aspects of mental health awareness month.

Why is Mental Health Important?

Mental health is more essential than ever before, and it has an impact on all aspects of our life. 

Mental health is important for a variety of reasons

Stabilizing constructive behaviors, emotions, and thoughts requires maintaining a positive mental health and managing any mental health disorders. Concentrating on mental health can help us be more productive, improve our self-esteem, and improve our relationships.

Nurturing mental health not only improves our daily functioning, but it can also help us control — or at the very least combat — some of the physical health issues that are directly linked to mental illnesses. Because heart disease and stress are linked, reducing stress may have a beneficial effect on heart disease.

Other benefits of taking care of our mental health can include:

  • Boosting our spirits
  • lowering our anxiety levels
  • Increasing your sense of inner serenity
  • More lucid thinking
  • Improving our interpersonal interactions
  • Boosting our self-confidence
"Our mental health has a significant impact on our eating and sleeping patterns, as well as our physical health." It's critical to manage our mental health needs, or else we'll often suffer the effects in other aspects of our health."

  • Boosting our spirits
  • lowering our anxiety levels
  • Increasing your sense of inner serenity
  • More lucid thinking
  • Improving our interpersonal interactions
  • Boosting our self-confidence
"Our mental health has a significant impact on our eating and sleeping patterns, as well as our physical health." It's critical to manage our mental health needs, or else we'll often suffer the effects in other aspects of our health."

Bisma Anwar, LMHC, is a Talkspace therapist.

Mental health, in addition to everything else we've already discussed, has a big impact on our psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It has a direct impact on how we feel and behave on a daily basis. When it comes to making difficult decisions, dealing with stress, and relating to other people in our lives, mental health is a big component.

Mental health, on the other hand, isn't something we can deal with once and then forget about. It is critical at all stages of our lives. From childhood through adulthood, mental health is something we must be aware of and handle with caution.

Having a solid foundation when it comes to mental health means you can:
  • Maintain healthy, productive connections.
  • Deal with life's daily stressors
  • Maintain a positive feeling of self by staying motivated, physically active, and eating well.
  • Increase your productivity at work and at school.
  • Make important community relationships and contributions
  • Recognize your entire potential and work toward it.

Why Should We Spread Mental Health Awareness?

We may endeavor to de-stigmatize how we think about, approach, and identify mental health concerns in our culture by making a concentrated effort to increase mental health awareness. We can begin to dispel the shame and anxiety that are often connected with mental health issues. It takes courage to ask for help. Working together helps us to provide the groundwork for a foundation that values and celebrates mental health.

Another advantage of focusing on mental health awareness is that it might raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses. For many illnesses, early intervention predicts how successful mental health treatment will be.

What Are the Most Common Mental Health Conditions?

There are many different types of mental illnesses, some of which are more common than others. Anxiety disorders are the most frequent mental health conditions in the United States, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. More than 40 million persons in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders, but only about a third of them seek treatment for their symptoms.

The following are some other common mental health issues:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety illness that occurs (PTSD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety condition (OCD)
  • Anorexia nervosa
"Depression, anxiety, PTSD, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders are some of the most frequent mental health issues."

Bisma Anwar, LMHC, is a Talkspace therapist.

What Are Different Factors That Influence Mental Health?

There are so many elements that can influence mental health that addressing them all can be tough. First and foremost, we aim to uncover the factors that can improve your mental health.

The following have the potential to improve mental health and stability:

  • Therapy is being sought.
  • Journaling
  • Mindfulness meditation, for example, is a type of mindfulness practice.
  • Exercise
  • Yoga or a low-impact workout
  • Learning to speak successfully can be beneficial to one's mental and emotional well-being.
There are a number of variables that can have a negative impact on mental health and stability, including:

  • Trauma, abuse, or neglect in the past
  • Stress that is long-term and/or intense
  • Loneliness as a result of social isolation
  • Bereavement
  • Discrimination
  • Long-term bodily problems
  • Disadvantages in society
  • Poverty or a large amount of debt
  • Unemployment
  • Divorce or a breakdown
  • Life in a dysfunctional family

How to Get Help For Mental Health

If you’re in crisis or if you’re experiencing suicidal ideation, you should seek help immediately. You can call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, which is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The hotline is a national network of crisis centers all over the United States. They offer confidential and free emotional support to anyone in need who’s experiencing a suicidal crisis.

If you're having suicide thoughts or are in a crisis, you should get treatment right away. You can dial 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The crisis hotline is part of a nationwide network of crisis centers. They provide anonymous and free emotional help to anyone in need who is having suicidal thoughts.