Mental Health and Its Influence on All People

What is mentally healthy?

Sadness, fear, helplessness, uncertainty…

Why me? What did I do to deserve it? How am I going to be alone now? Am I not attractive anymore? Am I worth less now?

What is being mentally healthy?

These are the questions that often cross our minds when we find ourselves in a crisis or difficult situation—whether it is the loss of a loved one, a tragedy, job loss, or a serious illness that can strike us.

In a world that never stops moving, where expectations and pressures are high, mental health has become a universal concern. It knows no boundaries and does not respect age, gender, or socio-economic status. Its reach extends into every corner of our lives, touching the rich and poor, the young and old, men and women.

Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness; it encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is the foundation on which we build our lives. Just as physical health affects our daily activities, our mental well-being plays a key role in determining how we deal with life’s challenges, relate to others, and make decisions. It is the foundation on which our quality of life is built.

Factors affecting mental health

Our mental health is influenced by countless factors, ranging from our genetic predisposition to environmental and lifestyle factors. The interaction between our genes, life experiences, and social influences shapes our mental well-being. It is essential to recognize that mental health problems can affect anyone, regardless of their background or personal history.

Prevalence of mental health problems – a global concern

Mental health problems are not isolated cases; they are widespread and affect millions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, over 450 million people are currently living with mental health problems, making it a global concern of the utmost importance. The numbers don’t lie and tell the story of how mental health issues are as pervasive as they are impactful.

How to maintain mental health

A simple recipe and advice for maintaining mental health do not exist because each person is unique and special for themselves. While psychology has singled out some general suggestions.

It is extremely important to be honest with ourselves when we find ourselves in such a situation and admit to ourselves the problems we have. We all have them, and expecting that any of us can be strong in every situation throughout our life, to face everything, to solve everything, is a complete illusion and is completely impossible.

Each of us has one problem or another at some point in our lives. The sooner we admit it to ourselves or share it with close people, the sooner we get their opinion, the sooner we will understand where we are.

How to understand that something is wrong and recognize the beginning of this condition?

The first symptom is sleep problems. If you wake up at night, have restless sleep, and don’t sleep well, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Another very good indicator is concentration. Concentration is the finest mental function, and when you feel that you cannot concentrate on what you are doing and cannot keep your attention at all, it is a sign that something is wrong. The third characteristic of people who have a problem is isolation. People with psychological and mental health problems generally begin to isolate themselves, which they should not do because this only slows down recovery and makes it impossible to receive help. On the other hand, we help the development of symptoms of that bad condition.

If the idea of pulling our own teeth has completely disappeared in Western civilization, the idea that we can solve every problem ourselves is illusory. We can solve some problems by ourselves, and that’s very nice, but for the ones we can’t, it’s quite normal to seek help.

Purpose of life

It is common knowledge in psychology and many therapies that finding the purpose of life is the key to success. Whoever finds a purpose will get out of the problem. One nice example: at the beginning of the 19th century, Beethoven, who lived in a small village in Heiligenstadt, Germany, began to lose his hearing and wanted to kill himself. Composer, conductor, pianist—he doesn’t hear anything anymore! And he writes a letter to his brothers that he wants to kill himself. But he does not kill himself because his life has the purpose of being a creative composer. He wrote a symphony, the II Symphony, which is the most cheerful music you can hear.

It is imperative that we raise awareness of the mental health aspect and provide support and resources to individuals dealing with this condition. By doing so, we can help many to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives, despite the challenges they face.

Elena