Top 7 tips to improve your Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional and psychological well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices in our lives. Our mental and emotional wellbeing affects our physical health too. Thus Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood.

Mental health Awareness

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of suicides in India is on the rise. According to Sources, most of these suicide victims have been in the age group of 18 to 29 years. Feelings of being unwanted, inability to cope with pressures from home and peers, failures, heartbreaks in relationships, broken relationships, unhealthy family environment, financial stress are often found to be some of the most common factors responsible for people to take such drastic steps like taking their own lives.

Sometimes this step is the result of an impulsive decision and sometimes a long thought-out deliberate act to harm themselves due to depression and feelings of helplessness. The growing numbers point out an important fact and concern that needs to be addressed: We are not giving enough importance to the mental and emotional well being of a person. We need to speak about mental health more openly.  Most cases and families reported that other members of the family had no idea that their son, daughter, wife or husband was depressed. If there was an atmosphere of openness that allowed one to express their feelings openly without being ridiculed, perhaps the number of suicides we see today and even worse those suffering silently would not be so high. A lot of the times the victim does not even know he or she may be suffering from an emotional and mental issue like severe depression, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or bipolar.

The solution lies in raising awareness about mental health, especially in schools and colleges. In fact, children from a younger age itself should be taught about Mental health and well being.  Schools should include it in their curriculum. When children know about these disorders from an early age they will be able to identify their problems and be able to seek help at the right time.

Parents should also be educated and aware so that they can provide the right atmosphere for their kids at home. Along with physical health and fitness, also identify the psychological and emotional patterns of your children. Spend time with them and help them overcome any limiting pattern you observe such as frequent mood swings, phobias etc. Kids who are emotionally strong will grow up to healthy and happy individuals who will make the right choices and decisions for themselves.

The importance of sound and strong mental health for the overall wellbeing of a person is extremely important. Parents and Educators must ensure that children don’t grow up in fear and self-hate. Correct children but don’t criticize them to the extent that they feel worthless and unwanted. Teach them to meditate from their childhood itself. Adults and kids at home should meditate together for at least 15 to 20 minutes daily. This will allow the atmosphere at home to be peaceful and we will feel more confident, happy and purposeful. Remember happiness is the key to good health and success.

Tips to Improve Mental Health:

1. Start your day intentionally: even in normal circumstances it’s tempting to start the day by grabbing our phones. but in the midst of a pandemic, it can feel almost responsible to check the news to stay updated with what’s happening around us. However, don’t make the news the first thing that you see in the morning. It can introduce panic, anxiety, and a frightening picture of what the future day or week might hold. Before starting your day or interacting with others, spend a few minutes in silence, then reflect on how you want to spend your day. Imagining happy outcomes will lay a foundation of positivity for future moments that the day will bring.
2. Take responsibility for your life: The way we think and speak becomes our reality. If we feel we are stuck, we will stay stuck no matter how much we wish to change our life. Remember where there is a problem there is a solution. Even if our situation seems unbearable, there is always a way out. But if we are too busy blaming others and the world, then we will never find a solution. You have to be patient and peaceful to be able to receive guidance and answers.
3. Help someone: Take the focus away from you and do something nice for another person. Doing something selflessly for someone will take your mind off of things that worry you and you will feel better and start appreciating your life more.
4. Surround yourself with Positivity: A great way to stay positive is to stick labels of positive words around your home. For example labels of words like love, joy, peace, good health, courage, Gratitude, strength can be stuck on your desks, computers, wardrobes, mirrors and refrigerators.
5. Smile: Sometimes a smile is all it takes to break the chain of negative thoughts and worries. Smiling will help change your mood and relieve stress. Even if you don’t feel like smiling, make an effort to smile, for the brain does not know that you are not feeling it. it will facilitate the same happy vibration. Come in front of a mirror, see yourself smiling. You will feel lighter and more
   positive.
6.  Live it one day at a time: When we start thinking too far ahead into the future it can be very overwhelming. A lot of times we get anxious because we are trying to control the future. This is a time for us to focus on the present and trust that if you take it day by day, you will get through this.
7. Count your blessings: Every day before you go to bed, thank God for being with you, be grateful for the good things that happened to you. Mentally bless all the people in your life. If you struggle to find anything in the day that you are grateful for, then remember some past happy events and be grateful for the opportunity to have experienced them. Gratitude enables you to go through the toughest of times with peace, joy and strength.

Also See: Listening – Key to Happy Relationships by Dr Karishma Ahuja