World Mental Health Day - 1

 World Mental Health Day -2020

https://nationaltoday.com/world-mental-health-day/

Yes, World Mental Health Day was October 10th.  But, I want to write about Mental Health, Depression, and Suicide this week (gee - doesn’t that sound so wonderful and uplifting???)

On the National Calendar World Mental Health Day we have this:

“World Mental Health Day is on October 10 and as our understanding of mental health grows, we grow along with it. Mental health has come a long way since the early nineties when the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) officially established the day. Our self-awareness and sensitivity towards it have changed things for the better. Our language surrounding mental health has improved as words like “crazy” and “lunatic” are used less flippantly and we come to better understand that they can be unintentionally hurtful and stigmatizing. While we’ve learned a lot, there’s still so much more we can do to evolve as a society.”

And a definition of Mental Health:

“ Mental health includes our EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.”  (https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm) 

(Just my opinion), I think there are many of us “walking wounded” people out there.  People who have some tough times in their lives - especially this year (2020) with COVID-19..  We all (generalization) have something that happened.  You didn’t make the first-string quarterback.  You didn’t even make the team!!  It was “Employee of the Year” day - and you secretly thought that you would be at least going to be nominated and maybe honorable mention - but you weren't even nominated.  

I thought that I had no value - nil/zilch!!  Nobody needed a washed-up professor.  (I’m listening to Brene Brown’s book Managing Leaders - as she talks about shame!!).  

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MENTAL HEALTH

I found some factors for Mental Health from WebMD - but they don’t quite hit the bottom!!

But, here are those factors for Mental Health:

Genetics - “Mental illnesses sometimes run in families, suggesting that people who have a family member with a mental illness may be somewhat more likely to develop one themselves.”  

Infections - “Certain infections have been linked to brain damage and the development of mental illness or the worsening of its symptoms.” 

Brain defects or injury: “Defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been linked to some mental illnesses.” 

Substance abuse: “Long-term substance abuse, in particular, has been linked to anxiety, depression, and paranoia.”  

Other factors: “Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins, such as lead, may play a role in the development of mental illnesses.”  

(from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness#1)

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Gee, with these items, I’m not sure I had a mental illness - but just (“just”??) depression, and just (“just”??) thoughts of suicide!!  I guess I didn’t have a mental illness!!!  

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Let’s go back to the CDC definition: “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.”

EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.  

How do we handle emotional issues?  How do we balance the ups-and-downs of life?  Do we go ‘into the dumps’ when we are down?  Generally, I am a pretty well-balanced person!!!  I do rely on my faith to help me cope when things get crazy (like a world-wide pandemic!!)

How about this statistic?

“Emotional well-being is influenced by a variety of demographic, economic, and situational factors. For example, the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak lowered emotional well-being by 74%.”  (WOW - the frustration of isolation has hit people hard!!!)

So, emotions?  Am I pretty level in terms of emotions?  As my readers know, I tend to be a Pollyanna - an optimist, looking at the happy side of things!!!  

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING.

According to the experts, there are six factors to psychological well-being:

-1 Self-acceptance

-2 Personal growth

-3 Purpose in life

-4 Environmental mastery

-5 Autonomy

-6 Positive relations with others

SOCIAL WELLBEING

And five factors for social well-being

-1 Openness

-2 Extroversion

-3 Conscientiousness

-4 Agreeableness

-5 Neuroticism 

But, that is enough for one day.  We’ll look more at the Mental Health topic this week!!!

LOVE WINS!!

Hugs!!

Karen