WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, 2023
Mental Health is a universal human right
How intentional are you about your mental health? How often do you take deliberate steps and measures to cut off things that affect your mental health negatively? Where do you go for help when your mental stability is threatened?
All these are questions every individual needs to answer with deliberateness to measure the state of their mental health because we all at one point or the other have had to face some challenges mentally.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), World Mental Health Day was instituted to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The first awareness started over 20 years ago and has since been celebrated every October 10th.
As individuals, we tend to concentrate more on our physical appearance and welfare and pay little to no attention to other aspects of our lives. We fail to realize that the part we can’t see has a major impact on the part/parts we see, i.e., mental health affects physical health and vice versa.
What is mental health?
According to the WHO,” mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn, and work well, and contribute to their community”. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and behavioral well-being. The state of our mental health cuts across our reactions to things, events, and our general relationships.
Mental health controls every part of our lives. Individuals who are challenged by their mental health will find it difficult or even impossible to carry out the activities, functions, and duties that are meaningful to them.
This year’s theme is centered around mental health being a universal human right which shows that every individual regardless of their mental well-being should not be labelled or stereotyped into a box. No one has the right to take their rights from them, but they have equal rights to exercise and practice all their fundamental human right.
A decline in mental health could start very subtly and quietly but is facilitated by causative factors. Some of these factors may include:
- Immediate and extended family members
- Social, and financial stress.
- Relationship
- Grief
- Health conditions
- Emotional neglect
- Social isolation and loneliness
- The loneliness
- Domestic violation, bullying, or any type of abuse.
- Postnatal and prenatal depression
- Work stress
The occurrence of one or more of the symptoms mentioned below may be a sign to seek the help of a medical professional.
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
- Withdrawal from friends, families, and social activities you used to enjoy.
- Extreme Mood swings
- Feeling tired or exhausted all the time.
- Impulsive behaviors
- Thinking or talking about suicide or death
- Depression
- Abuse of substances like alcohol and drugs
- Anxiety
- Disability
- Aggressive behaviors
- Hearing voices
- Experiencing delusions
- Being unable to complete daily tasks such as dressing up, cooking, etc.
- Thinking of hurting yourself or someone else
It’s not wise or advisable to allow our mental health to deteriorate to the stages or symptoms mentioned above. It is important that we set parameters in place to measure the state of our mental health regularly. The following are basic things one can do to help when you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above.
- Getting restful sleep
- See a professional
- Regular exercise
- Eating healthy
- Meditation
- Engaging in leisure activities
- Avoid illegal substances (alcohol and drugs)
- Listen to music.
- Spend quality time with family and friends.
Where and how to get help?
At Enability Occupational Therapy Center, we are equipped with the right resources and qualified personnel to help individuals with mental health challenges find stability, help, and relevant intervention. For more information, contact us at info@enabilityot.com for assistance or call (+234) 9098597486.