Introduction to Mental Health

Mental health is important for everyone. WHO defines being mentally well as being able to manage the normal stresses in life, work well, contribute to the community and achieve your life goals. If someone is experiencing mental health challenges, they may show many different symptoms. Examples include difficulties with our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships with others, and our ability to do daily activities.

During disease outbreaks like COVID-19, people may experience mental health challenges because of stress, anxiety, and depression caused by fear and worry. Concerns about health, loss of income, isolation/ exclusion, powerlessness and fear of visiting health facilities can all cause fear and worry. People may also experience stigma, increased violence, worsening health and mental health conditions that lead to poor mental well-being.

Often mental health is misunderstood and is seen as bad. This can lead to stigma & discrimination, which makes people less likely to get the help they need. Everyone needs to take care of their mental health, like we do with our physical health

We all experience times when we enjoy positive mental health, where we enjoy life & cope with good and bad days. We also have times of high stress and anxiety, which may or may not lead to a mental health condition. Our mental health ranges from mild and temporary distress to treatable short-term distress that may or may not become a chronic and severe mental health conditions.

Positive mental health & mental health disorders can exist at the same time. People with mental health conditions can experience periods of well-being, and those without a mental health condition can at time experience serious stress and anxiety. So, mental health needs to be understood as something that ranges in ones life. At any stage of life, one may find themselves at different points on that range. Because we all experience mental health in different ways every day, it is important to pay attention to everyone in care, and not only those that are diagnosed with a mental health condition.

"Good" mental health is not defined the absense of mental health challenges, but but it means that you have the ability to navigate those challenges and have access to resources and support as needed. Good mental health includes self-acceptance, optimism, resilience, positive relations with parents or peers, a sense of purpose in life and feelings of growth or achievement. We measure positive mental health by how people see themselves in relation to others, if they feel accepted by others and how they fit into their community.