Why Mental Health Should be Priority?

People’s mental health has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. 

People from all walks of life have felt the effects of the pandemic’s stressors, whether they be first responders who have been overburdened with work, students who have been kept from attending classes, members of families who have been split up, victims of COVID-19 infection or the loss of loved ones, or those with pre-existing mental health conditions who have had trouble gaining access to mental health services during lockdowns.

Mental health affects almost all areas of a person’s life. Feelings of fear, anxiety, or helplessness are natural in this uncharted period. However, you can take care of your mental health and well-being regardless of where you are or what you’re going through in the Pacific. Here are some steps you may take to deal with the COVID-19 mental health issue and other stressful situations.

Tips to improve mental health in 2023

Some essential tips to improve one’s mental health are mentioned below:

Confide with a friend

Help can be found in sharing feelings with a reliable person, such as a friend, family member, or co-worker. If you have someone you can talk to about your problems, it may help you cope. Staying in touch with loved ones is easy, even if you only have a few opportunities to do it in person because of where you reside, thanks to technologies like video calls, phone calls, and messaging apps.

Take care of your body

Take care of one’s physical health. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. This includes jogging, gardening, yoga, and cycling. Adopt a well-rounded, nutritious eating plan. Make sleep a priority.

Take part in pleasurable pursuits

Do your best to keep up with the things you enjoy doing, whether preparing a meal for yourself or your loved ones, interacting with your pet, taking a stroll through the park, reading a book, watching a movie, or tuning into your favorite television show. Maintaining positive mental health can be achieved by treating yourself regularly and engaging in routines that bring you joy.

Stay clear of poisonous things

To deal with your emotions, avoid using substances like drugs, kava, alcohol, or tobacco. These may provide temporary relief, but they often lead to even more significant distress in the end. These drugs also pose health risks to users and those nearby.

Seek Expert Assistance

Calling a local mental health helpline or making an appointment with your therapist or doctor is an excellent first step if you feel overwhelmed by stress. However, remember that you are not alone and may take steps to improve your mental health.

Try to be gentle with yourself

You may not be ready to praise, but try to find some compassion. For example, if you’re having trouble being kind to yourself, try being kind to someone else instead. Then congratulate yourself on having accomplished that goal.

Exercise

Simply getting up and moving around, even if just for a little while, can positively affect your mental and physical health. The effects of exercise on one’s mental health are well-documented, as is the positive impact on one’s mood, focus, and even the reduction of anxiety and sadness.

Nutritious Food

Avoid consuming more than 10 cups of liquid daily unless it’s water. However, a positive outlook on food is also essential to a balanced diet. Gather with friends for delicious meals, venture out to experience new cuisines, and avoid making food the center of your life. Learn about eating disorders and seek assistance if you suspect your relationship with food may be causing emotional or physical distress.

Turn off all electronic devices 30 minutes before bedtime

Screen usage before bed impacts your fall-asleep speed and sleep quality. The sleep-wake hormone melatonin is affected by the blue light emitted from smartphones. Keeping your mind engaged with reading, messaging, etc., prevents your mind from relaxing. This can be a vital mental health tip.

Make Contact or socialize with others

Positive emotions, such as happiness, relief from despair and anxiety, and a sense of belonging to a community, can all be stoked by spending time with loved ones, pets, or even random strangers. Prioritize the depth of your connections over their frequency. Keep in touch with those who contribute to your sense of being loved, supported, joyful, and valuable. This tip can be constructive in achieving proper mental health.

Obtain (and Offer) Companionship

Get help if you or someone you know is having trouble. This person could be close to you, like a friend or relative. A different option is to get help from a mental health professional, counselor, or primary care physician. Try to find someone else to lean on if the first person you encounter cannot provide the level of assistance you require. Ask yourself whether there is something kind or supportive you can do for a friend, family member, or acquaintance who is feeling bad.

When to see a doctor?

Quicker treatment is more likely to be successful if patients are aware of and respond to the emergence of symptoms. Reducing the severity of an illness and the associated disruptions to the quality of life and daily functions is possible with early intervention.

A significant mental disease may be postponed or avoided entirely if the proper steps are taken early.

• Consultation with a mental health expert is recommended if several symptoms are present. Some crucial signs of improper mental health are discussed below:
• Drastic shifts in sleep or eating habits or a general lack of interest in self-care are also concerning.
• Mood swings – extreme emotions, increased depression, or irritation.
• Withdrawal – Recent isolation and disinterest in once-enjoyed activities.
• Changes in functioning – Changes in academic performance, job performance, or social activities that are out of the ordinary.
• Difficulty thinking — focus, memory, or logical reasoning and communication issues.
• Sensitivity enhancement entails a heightened awareness of and avoidance of all sensory input, whether visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile.
• Feeling very anxious or suspicious about other people.

Although the presence of only one or two of these symptoms is insufficient to diagnose a mental disorder, it may indicate the need for additional investigation. A doctor or mental health expert should be consulted if a person has multiple symptoms at once, and those symptoms interfere significantly with their ability to learn, work, or interact socially. In addition, people with thoughts of suicide or harming others require immediate assistance.

When to Seek Assistance?

Mental health is a priority for many people. Evidence gathered over more than a decade from all over the world suggests that getting help as soon as possible might reduce the severity of symptoms. This will keep people out of the hospital and mental health disorders and improve their long-term outcomes. 

These “red flag” early warning symptoms can be distressing and disabling, even in the absence of other, more obvious signs of a diagnosable mental disorder. Early intervention, like with other medical conditions, can make all the difference in preventing a potentially serious illness.