Sehatमन- Daivya Luther

Mental health is not just a concept that refers to an individual’s psychological and emotional well being ,rather it’s a state of psychological and emotional well being where an individual is able to use their cognitive and emotional capabilities, meet the ordinary demand and functions in the society. According to WHO , “Mental health is a state of well-being that allows an individual to be able to work in a productive manner and cope with the stresses of daily life.” Some like to focus on their overall health which according to WHO means, the state of complete physical, mental, emotional and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, which indeed implies that there is no health without mental health. And yet , there are stigmas attached to it , even when around 450 million people currently suffer from mental disorders. Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. People who suffer from mental disorders are often neglected the proper care and treatment due to the stigmas , discrimination and neglect associated with it by the society.

People who face mental illness are challenged by the stereotypes and prejudice that result from misconceptions about mental illness. Sometimes they are taunted by these ‘critiques’ and often referred to as the attention seekers. And , people find it embarrassing to face their relatives and families about telling them that they are suffering from any mental ailment and they need a psychiatrist. This causes their family members to have a very ‘secretive’ conversation about it. So , the question here arises why do people find this embarrassing when , on the contrary , they call up their relatives just to tell that they are suffering from any other disease like a fracture , or even pneumonia. Why just stigmatise mental well being when it is the most important part of the body? Why not give attention to mental health equally as physical health? It is important to understand that both, mental and physical health are even handed and inter related. For instance , People with any chronic physical disease tend to feel more psychological distress than healthy people. Poor physical health brings an increased risk of depression, as do the social and relationship problems that are very common among chronically ill patients. In other words , both physical and mental health share a direct relationship with one other. We even choose songs according to our health. The day we feel chirpy and ecstatic , we tend to prefer party songs or fast songs but, when we get hurt , feel gloomy or face breakups , we are/feel inclined towards sad songs or so which reflects our state of mind!

As it is rightly said that mental illness is a lifestyle disorder, but genetics also play a greater role in it. It is observed that sometimes people suffer from depression because they either have a family history for it or they lack 5HTT hormone which, leads to depression. But, looking at a larger picture, social media might influence mental health negatively. This is because everyone these days are never contended with themselves ad have a distorted self-image. They tend to feel that they need to become as thin as those models or actors in order to fit in the ‘beauty criteria’ of the world. This causes them to feel sad and dull and ultimately disrupting mental health. Everybody feels that they are not pretty and hence they feel apprehensive upon posting any picture without filters. Even their so called ‘no filter’ picture has filters in it. This shakes the confidence of especially teenagers who, in turn then feel that they are not pretty, or they even starve themselves which ultimately leads to them suffering from diseases, both mental and physical. A study concluded that as suicide-related internet use adversely affected the mental health of certain age groups it may be prudent to reduce or control their exposure to these websites.

Stress also contributes its bit in a nervous breakdown. Chronic stress increases the risk of developing depression and anxiety in some people. Scientists found that the earliest response to stress happens in the brain within seconds of perceiving a ‘stressor’. Chemicals which signal between nerve cells (neurotransmitters) are released. These include serotonin and adrenaline. Following this, stress hormones are released, which particularly affect areas of the brain key for memory and regulating emotions. Researchers are also investigating how these systems are involved in anxiety and depression, suggesting a biochemical link between stress and mental illness. Recent studies have shown that long-term stress can change the structure of the brain, especially in areas supporting learning and memory. It is therefore of utmost importance to take care of our mind because, indeed the power of subconscious mind is what helps us to make our decisions.

Mental health is much more than a diagnosis. It's our overall psychological well-being—the way we feel about ourselves and others as well as our ability to manage our feelings and deal with everyday difficulties. Taking care of your mental health can mean seeking professional support and treatment, it also means taking steps to improve your emotional health yourself. Research shows that how you think about yourself can have a powerful effect on how you feel. Hence, we should practice using words that promote feelings of self-worth and personal power. Gratitude has also been clearly linked with improved well-being and mental health, as well as happiness. Your body releases stress-relieving and mood-boosting endorphins before and after you work out, which is why exercise is a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression. Exposure to sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D, which increases your level of serotonin in the brain. Plus, time in nature is a proven stress reducer. Stress is often unavoidable but knowing what triggers your stress and knowing how to cope is key in maintaining good mental health. It is therefore important to take care of we and have a “Sehatman.”