Understanding the Importance of Mental Health

*If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call 988 IMMEDIATELY

I recently attended a symposium on mental health and the dangers of social media, particularly for young people. One of the day’s topics was human trafficking and the sophisticated, clandestine ways that traffickers lure children and young adults through social media right under their parents’ noses. Without proper training, even the most vigilant parents might not be aware of what’s going on beneath their own roofs during the “grooming” process, often until it’s too late.

Learning about this was incredibly interesting, but what precisely did it have to do with mental health? As it turns out, a lot. Because one key personality trait that all trafficked children share, boys and girls, is low self-esteem, a key aspect of mental health.

This is just one major reason why nurturing metal health is extremely important. But there are many other reasons, and they’re not just for children but adults as well. And yet, what exactly is mental health?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Mental health is the component of behavioral health that includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is a state of well-being that enables us to cope with the stresses of life, realize our abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to our community.”

Mental health is complex, and according to the Mental Health Foundation in the UK, “our well-being is determined by a combination of biological factors (physical health, genetics, diet, sleep, age, etc.); psychological factors (beliefs, perception, mental health diagnoses, etc.); and social factors (relationships, family, culture, work, money, etcetera).”

And mental health is interactive in the sense that an issue in one of these three areas will often impact the other two. For example, if you grow up in an environment where your self-worth is linked to the amount of money you earn (social factor), then you might develop low self-esteem (psychological factor) if you don’t earn what your “tribe” deems “a lot” of money. Long-term low self-esteem might lead to depression (psychological factor; also, possible biological factor), which might be exacerbated if you’re prone to insomnia (biological factor; possible psychological factor).

When a person’s mental health issues are interrupting their ability to manage their life, then it’s probably time to enlist the help of a mental health professional. (If a person is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 988 immediately.) This professional might prescribe talk therapy or medication or a combination of both. They might augment these therapies with unique treatments, like equine therapy or floating in a sensory deprivation tank, two powerful salves.

Usually, a multi-pronged approach like this is taken to address mental health as it’s not a one size fits all issue, far from it. It depends on what the person is experiencing, whether it’s simply the doldrums or clinical depression. It could also be addiction, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or a combination of them.  (For a list of local mental health professionals, scroll down.)

Mental health professionals aside, there are many things people can do themselves to help improve their mental health. According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), the top five initiatives a person can take to improve their mental health and well-being are:

• Connect with other people
• Get physical (exercise)
• Learn new skills
• Give to others (including yourself! Generosity boosts your feel-good neurotransmitters)
• Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

Let’s explore these five initiatives a little more in depth, with helpful examples from the NHS and other mental health advocates:

1. Connect with other people:
   People are social animals by nature. Positive relationships are important for your mental well-being. They can create a sense of belonging and increase self-worth. Whether you’re 10, 25, 45 or 75, make strengthening your relationships a priority (or maintaining them if you’re already doing a good job). This includes your family. A perfect place to start? Break bread together regularly as a family at least a few times a week.

   Another suggestion: make the most of technology to stay in touch with friends and family who live far away. Video-chat apps like FaceTime are wonderful. But also be aware: if you’re a parent, stay vigilant about these kinds of apps and other apps that appear like ‘regular’ apps, such as a fake calculator, but are really entryways to sites that no child, no person should ever visit. For more information about this, visit: Most Popular Hiding Apps Parents Should Know About | Security.org

2. Get physical
   Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness, studies have shown it has the potential to improve your mental well-being by:
   • raising your self-esteem
   • helping you to set goals and ushering in positive feelings when you accomplish them
   • releasing feel-good hormones 
3. Learn new skills
   Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental well-being by:
   • boosting self-confidence and raising your self-esteem
   • helping you build a sense of purpose
   • helping you to connect with others

   A good place to start would be a skill that you’ve wanted to learn for a long time. Maybe it’s playing the piano. Maybe it’s gardening. Or salsa dancing. Whatever that small urge is, go with it. Your soul is telling you something, and it may lead you in a direction you didn’t even realize you needed to – and subconsciously wanted to – go!

4. Give to others
   Research suggests that acts of generosity, especially offered with genuine kindness and love, can help improve your mental well-being by:
   • creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
   • ushering in a feeling of purpose and self-worth
   • helping you create meaningful bonds with others

   Keep in mind, your ‘acts of generosity’ don’t need to be big, sweeping gestures. Sometimes, it’s just helping an elderly person with their grocery bags or taking the time to hold the door for someone. Other times it’s biting your tongue and being understanding when you respond to an exhausted, overworked salesperson on the other end of the phone who could be a tad more polite.

   And remember, charity starts at home, so remember to help out your parents or sister when they reach out for help, even the one that gets on your nerves!

   Another way to be generous with yourself. I’m talking generous with love and compliments and any/all other positive “warm fuzzies.” A great way to improve this is starting with positive affirmations every morning. This may sound silly, but try this: look in the mirror and repeat to yourself what it is that you want to feel. For example, if you’re feeling ugly, say “I am beautiful inside and out” several times. This may sound like malarky, but practice it for 30 straight days, and you’re going to feel a positive difference.

   One final way to be generous is by forgiving those who have offended you. It’s not always easy to do. A good place to start might be somewhat unexpected: practice self-forgiveness; it’s often easier to forgive others when you’ve learned to forgive yourself for past transgressions. And don’t underestimate the importance of self-forgiveness. It is key to self-healing, and self-healing is integral to healthy mental health.

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

   Staying consciously, mindfully, in the present can instantly minimize your stress and improve your mental health.

   There are many ways to develop mindfulness. Meditation is an excellent way to start. Most meditations use breathwork as a key tool. This can be as simple as paying attention to your inhales and exhales to help slow the ‘chatter’ in the brain and stay tethered to the here and now.

   Read more about mindfulness here: 10 Ways to Integrate Mindfulness

   These five main tips for improving your (and your child’s) mental health are good starting points. Tweak as you see fit. And remember, the best gift you can give yourself, and especially your child, is routinely practicing activities that help develop high self-esteem. Because the one kind of person that sex traffickers do not target, in fact whom they avoid, is a young person who feels empowered and has true confidence. In other words, a child with high self-esteem. And the person who has the most influence on a child is their parent; if said-parent has high self-esteem, they’re a natural positive role model for their kids. The takeaway? Don’t neglect your mental health.