Mental Health – The Foundation For Emotions, Thinking, Communication, Learning, Resilience, Hope and Self-Esteem
Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience, hope and self-esteem.
It’s key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being and contributing to community or society.
There are a variety of risk and protective factors for mental illness including genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, stress and substance use.
1. It boosts your productivity and financial security
Mental health is a crucial part of the way you think, feel and perform. It affects how you respond to stress, cope with relationships and makes decisions.
Having good mental health can boost your productivity at work, enabling you to produce better quality work. It also helps you to handle life’s ups and downs with resilience.
A new study by the World Health Organization has shown that poor mental health costs the global economy 1 trillion dollars in lost productivity each year. However, research shows that for every US dollar invested in treatment and prevention for mental health issues, there is a $4 return on investment.
Providing a workplace culture that fosters good mental health is not just important for your team members, it’s vital for your business too. For example, research suggests that employees who have access to mental health resources and support tend to be more engaged at work. This has a direct impact on company retention and employee morale, which in turn can affect sales and revenue.
2. It prevents violent crimes
While people with mental illness are disproportionately victims of violent crime, they do not cause the majority of it. Many other factors, including poverty, upbringing, general health, experiences, genetics, and substance abuse, play a role.
But if you remove those factors, the link between mental illness and violence becomes smaller still. So saying that someone who committed a violent crime had mental health problems doesn’t mean much at all.
Moreover, when you consider the cost of jail and prison, it would be far more effective to offer more mental health treatment for people who need it. This would prevent them from committing violent crimes in the first place, which is cost-effective for both society and criminal justice.
3. It helps you cope with stress
Stress is a normal part of life, but it can be harmful if it lasts for too long. It can affect your heart, digestive system and immune system and make it harder for you to deal with everyday problems.
Mental health helps you cope with stress by building resilience. Resilience is the ability to overcome unexpected challenges and stressful situations by drawing on your inner strength and using the network of people around you.
You can also use simple coping skills, such as breathing and exercise to help you manage your stress. If you are not able to cope with stress on your own, talking to a professional can help.
You can also take a mental health day, which is an hour, half a day or even a month away from your usual responsibilities to rejuvenate your mind and body. It can also be an opportunity to plan activities that stimulate your five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing).
4. It improves your relationships
Having strong relationships is important for your mental health and well-being. Positive relationships lead to feelings of trust, empathy and self-esteem.
Studies have shown that having a good social network is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety, better emotional stability and improved immune system function.
When relationships end, like after a break-up or the loss of a partner, loneliness can be devastating for people’s mental health.
If you’re in a relationship with someone who has a mental health condition, it can be hard to understand their symptoms and behaviors. However, it’s important to stay open to their needs and communicate with them in a way that makes them feel safe.
Supporting someone with a mental illness may be a challenge, but it can be very rewarding for you and your partner. It can also help you learn more about each other and grow together.
