Mental Health

Mental health means presence of well-being and absence of illness. To understand its importance we can start with some activities.

1. Make a list of the activities you perform to take care of your physical health.
2. Now make a list of the activities you perform to take care of your mental health.

Now you can see the difference, how much we care about mental health? when we see same effect. World Health Organization (WHO) clearly said that Mental Health is as important as Physical health. We still ignore our mental health.

But we get same results as we get for ignoring physical health. You do follow hygiene practices to keep ourself healthy. But, do you follow any hygiene practices for mentally healthy.  Are you aware of any hygiene practices for mental health.

Mental Hygiene Practices

We are aware that even a small injury can create huge medical emergency. You visit doctor immediately after injury. You take care that injury but what if there is a mental injury. We are not aware of it.

What is Mental Injury?

Mental injury can be –

  • A no,
  • Any rejection,
  • A taunt,
  • An insult,
  • A failure,
  • Any Stress, (Family, friends, work, life)
  • Break up,
  • Loss of loved one,
  • Isolation
  • Vulnerability
  • Anxiety
  • trauma,
  • Loneliness
  • Bullying,
  • Punishments,
  • Discrimination
  • Deprivation
  • Disaster
  • Anger,
  • Injustice, etc

You do follow hygiene practices to keep ourself healthy (See we are still just thinking about our physical health). Do you follow any hygiene practices to keep yourself mentally healthy. You are not aware of it, right? Read how to practice mental hygiene practices.

How to take care of Mental health?

As we take care of our physical health, first we should practice Mental hygiene practices to stay mentally fit  and avoid mental illnesses.

If the problem / issue is big, we visit professionals. For Physical Health we meet Doctors but for Mental health we can meet-

  • Counselors-  For general mental health problems or issues.
  • Psychologists- For therapies, for severe mental health problems.
  • Psychiatrists- For medicines, for extreme mental health problems.

When to visit Counselor ?

When to visit Psychologists ?

When to visit Psychiatrists ?

First Aid in Mental Health!

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
We can start with ALGEE Action Plan in mental health. Read More.

 

How to Test Mental Health?

Everyone need to assess their mental health with standard psychometric tests. Like blood test, dengue test, urine test in medical fields, there are various Psychological tests. Psychologist have created Standard psychometric tests for various psychological variables.

Standard Psychometric test is objective test. It will have established reliability, validity and norms.

You can test yourself on following psychological variables.
Psychological Tests

Mental Health Helpline

In India  080 – 4611 0007 (NIMHANS- 24 x 7 toll free helpline)

Other Mental Health Helplines by Live Love Laugh Foundations 

Reference

WHO -Mental health 

NIMHANS- helpline/