Mental Health: Increasing The Much Needed Awareness

Mental health is a universal human right, this is the theme for this year world mental health day, which is commemorated every 10^th of October.

Mental Health has become a major concern in recent times in our modern society and yet it seem the issue is not given the much needed attention.

The world mental health day is set aside to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promotes and protects every individual’s mental health.

Individuals who have mental health issues or illnesses and seek professional care are considered to have lost their minds, not emotionally balanced or strong enough to handle life issues, weak and stigmatized.

Dr. Ehi Iden, a psychologist and a mental health ambassador and member of external review group to W.H.O on Mental Health at Workplaces said in an interview on LN247’s This Morning Show, that the awareness of Mental Health in Nigeria is still very low and much work still needs to be done to bring the issue of Mental Health to the fore, by creating avenues in homes, offices, religious and social gatherings to discuss the issue of mental health.

Presently in Nigeria, many people are going through a lot of difficulty to make ends meet coupled with the hustle and bustle of everyday activities and more, puts pressure on the emotional well being of individuals thereby putting there mental health at risk, in this light Dr. Iden states that even while life challenges may be factors that put a person mental health at risk, however, mental health is not a discriminant, meaning a person can be financially stable and may not be going through any difficult life issues but still have mental health issues, nevertheless, the psychologist said, people at the lowest financial state are the worst hit when it comes to mental health issues and are also not able to access quality mental health care because of their financial state.

Statistics shows that, one in every eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, with an increasing number of  adolescents and young people affected, which can impact their physical health, well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods.

Dr. Ehi Iden, further submits that laughter and getting involve in physical activities are factors that can improve a person’s mental health. Maintaining a balanced mental health is a personal responsibility as every individual have control over what they allow in their lives and around them.

Here are some tips one can do to improve Mental Wellbeing:

Try To Relax And Reduce Stress

Try to think about what might help you to relax. If there’s something that helps you, try to find time to fit it into your day. For example, this could be having a bath or shower. Or going for a walk or listening to music.

Spend Time In Nature

Spending time in nature can help improve your mood and reduce feelings of stress and anger.

Connect With Others

Connecting with others can help us have a greater sense of belonging and reduce feelings of loneliness.

Look After Your Physical Health

Taking care of your physical health can have a positive effect on your wellbeing. These tips may help:

Drink Water Regularly

Drinking enough water or other fluids is important for our mental and physical health.

Try To Improve Your Sleep

How well we sleep can impact our wellbeing. And if you are struggling with your mental health, this can affect your sleep. Everyone’s sleep patterns are different, and it’s important to do what works for you. But here are some ideas you could try:

Establish A Routine

Try and establish a routine around bed time, to help set a regular sleeping pattern.

Think About Your Screen Time

Try to give yourself some tech-free time before sleep, and avoid bright screens that can affect your sleep. Instead of looking at a screen you could try listening to some music or a podcast.

Every Individual has the responsibility to main their mental health and at the same time a responsibility to others, such as family, friends and the society at large by showing more empathy, being more selfless and kind, always checking up on one another from time to time, as mental health should be valued, promoted, protected, and urgent action is to be taken so that everyone can exercise their human rights and access quality mental health care when needed.