By Leslie Holley, MA, LCPC, NCC
What is good mental health?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health embodies how we think, feel, and act. If our mental health is good, we can handle stress better, relate to others, and continue the ability to make healthy choices in our lives. Some would say that physical health is of primary importance, however, physical and mental health are equally important components for overall positive health outcomes.
Good mental health doesn’t mean an absence of problems. Strong mental health refers to the presence of certain characteristics.
People who are mentally healthy:
- Are content
- Have the ability to laugh and have fun
- Have a sense of meaning and purpose
- Are flexible and adapt to change
- Strive for balance in their work and personal lives
- Have the ability to build and maintain healthy relationships
- Embody sself-confidence and high self-esteem
If you embody all of these characteristics that’s fantastic! You are well on your way to living a healthy, balanced life. The key is to continue these characteristics throughout the lifespan.
If you are reading this list and can’t see many of these characteristics in yourself, try to focus on the following:
Connect with other people
Fostering healthy relationships with others is important to mental well-being. Healthy relationships with others can help build a sense of belonging and self-worth. They also offer an opportunity to share and provide reciprocal support.
Become Physically Active
Many of us know that physical health has a direct impact on our mental health as well. Research shows being active can raise our self-esteem and cause chemical changes in the brain that aid in positive mood change. Additionally, setting a goal or challenge and achieving them reminds us of our strength and resilience.
Learn A New Skill
Learning new things boost self-confidence and build a sense of purpose. Learning new things also opens up new doors to meet new people with shared interests.
Focus on the present.
Focusing on the here and now can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. Techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, can help positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Studies show that focusing on the present predicts improvements in life satisfaction.
Focusing on these four tools can help support a positive mental health change in your daily life. This mental health awareness month, find one thing you can add from this list to focus on you.
For mental health support services, we are here to help. Contact us today.
About Evan W. Smith Funeral Services: Since 2009, residents of Wilmington, Dover, and the surrounding Delaware community have relied on the caring staff at Evan W. Smith Funeral Services to help them through their darkest hours. Family-owned and operated, the company offers an array of elite funeral care services, including traditional funerals, cremations, memorials, pre-planning, grief counseling, and more. With decades of experience in caring for families from all cultural backgrounds and diverse walks of life, Evan W. Smith Funeral Services is committed to creating memorable, uplifting experiences that always exceed expectations. For more information, please visit www.ewsmithfs.com.
References:
- https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/building-better-mental-health.htm
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28650188/
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