Mental Health
Why is your mental health so important?
Mental health is key to our well-being. We can’t be truly healthy
without it. It involves how we feel, think, act, and interact with the
world around us. Mental health is about realizing our potential, coping
with the normal stresses of life, and making a contribution to our
community.
Good mental health isn’t about avoiding problems or trying to achieve
a ‘perfect’ life. It’s about living well and feeling capable
despite
challenges. Mental well-being is bigger than the presence or absence of
a mental illness. People who live with a mental illness can and do
thrive, just as people without a mental illness may experience poor
mental health.
Each of our paths to mental well-being will be unique. We all have
our own goals, our own challenges, our own talents, and our own
supports. But good mental health is within everyone’s reach. Below, find
tips and activities to help you take a look at your own well-being,
discover your strengths, and take action.
Maintaining your mental health is a lot like staying physically fit: it requires a little effort every day
But the rewards are great! Mostly, it’s about finding balance in your
life. Everyone has to face stresses and demands, but we all need and
deserve a break sometimes. Devote a little of each day to improving your
mental health. You’ll reap the benefits in the same way that daily
physical exercise makes you stronger and fitter.
Everyday tips for keeping mentally healthy
Here are a few healthy practices that can be easily integrated into
your daily life. The idea is that a lot of small, concerted actions can
add up to a significant overall effect. Apply some of these ideas on a
regular basis and you’ll find yourself feeling rejuvenated and more
confident:
Build a healthy self-esteem
Self-esteem is more than just seeing your good qualities. It is being
able to see all your abilities and weaknesses together, accepting them,
and doing your best with what you have. Self-esteem means recognizing
your unique talents and abilities, and using that confidence to follow
your goals and interests without comparing yourself to others.
Activity: Build confidence
Take a look at your good points. What do you do best? What are your
skills and interest areas? How would a friend describe you? Next, look
at your weak points. What do you have difficulty doing? What things make
you feel frustrated? Now, which list was easier to write? Remember that
all of us have our positive and negative sides. We build confidence by
developing our weaker areas and regularly reminding ourselves of the
things we’re comfortable with and proud of.
Build positive support networks
Good relationships take effort, whether it’s relationships with
family members, friends, or other important supporters. It takes courage
to reach out and time to build trust. But social support is a very
important part of mental health. People in our networks can offer many
different kinds of support, like emotional support, practical help, and
other points of view. Support can come from family and friends,
neighbours, co-workers or classmates, faith communities, clubs or
support groups for specific problems.
Activity: Make time
Make time just to be with important people in your life. Make time
for just having fun and enjoying each other’s company, and time for
serious conversations.
Get involved
Being involved in things that really matter to us provides a great
feeling of purpose and satisfaction. You make a difference, no matter
how big or small your efforts. Getting involved connects you with others
in your community who share similar interests or values, and connects
you to groups of people you might not normally meet. It can help you
learn new skills, build confidence, and see your own experiences in a
different way.
Activity: Volunteer
Be a volunteer. Read to children at your local library, visit people
in a hospital or care facility, serve on a committee or board of your
favourite charity, clean up your favourite park or beach, or simply help
a neighbour.
Build resiliency
Resiliency means coping well with problems, stress, and other
difficult situations. Problems and stress are a normal part of life.
Situations like accidents or illness, unexpected life changes, and
conflict happen to everyone. Resiliency is what helps you look at the
situation realistically, take action when you can make changes, let go
of things you can’t change, and recognize the helpful supports in your
life. Your resiliency toolkit might include skills like problem solving,
assertiveness, balancing obligations and expectations, and developing
support networks. While some people learn these skills during treatment
for mental health problems, we should really think of them as skills for
everyone. You can learn more about these skills online, in books,
through community organizations, or through your health care provider.
Activity: Build your own toolkit
Set aside time to think about the resiliency tools you already have.
This might include skills like structured problem solving or people who
can help you in difficult situations. Remember to include strategies
that have worked for you before. Keep your list on hand and use it as a
reminder when you need help. It’s also a good way to see where you might
want to build new skills or supports.
Recognize your emotions
Emotional well-being is not about being happy all the time. Feeling
sad, angry, and anxious at times is part of being human. Emotional
well-being involves expressing our emotions in a way that respects
everyone. Bottling up our feelings doesn’t respect our own experiences,
just as lashing out because we feel angry may not respect others.
Emotional well-being also includes recognizing what influences our
emotions, discovering how our emotions affect the way we think or act,
taking action when our emotional response isn’t helpful, and learning to
accept our emotions—even the difficult ones.
Activity: Identify and deal with your moods
Find out what makes you happy, sad, joyful or angry. What calms you
down? Learn ways to deal with your moods. Share joyful news with a
friend, and find support when you feel sad. Physical exercise can help
you deal with your anger or anxiety. Keep a stack of your favourite
funny cartoons, stories, or videos for times when you need to laugh. And
don’t forget the power of music to lift you up or calm you down.
Take care of your spiritual well-being
Spiritual well-being means getting to know ourselves, discovering our
values, and learning to be at peace with who we are. It also involves
finding and connecting to something bigger than ourselves and living
with purpose. Spirituality can give us meaning and solace, help us
overcome challenges, and strengthen our connections with others. This
may mean religion for some, but it doesn’t have to—it’s really about how
we feel on the inside.
Activity: Connect with yourself
Set aside quiet, quality time to be totally alone. Try a breathing
exercise: count your breaths from one to four, and then start at one
again. Or do something you love to do, like dancing, going to a baseball
game, building a bird house, going for a hike, or whatever works for
you!
Asking for help
While family and friends are important supports, there are other
resources out there to help you as well. Many communities have
information centres that can provide lists of available services. Or a
public library might help.
Other possible sources of information and inspiration include:
- websites of reputable mental health organizations such as CMHA
- books about specific mental health problems
- films, videos and audio tapes
- courses and workshops offered through community centres, schools and universities
- people you admire for their ability to find balance
Maintaining your mental health sometimes means seeking the help of a professional
- If you have a mental health concern, speak with your doctor.
- For financial challenges, seek the help of a financial planner or debt advisor
- For direction in your work life, speak to a career counsellor and make a career plan.
- To repair relationships with loved ones and friends, talk to an expert and work through the issues.
How CMHA and other mental health organizations can help
Learn how to take care of your mental health. Get the facts about mental illness. Find
help for yourself or others.
CMHA can help. We have a remarkable team of more than 10,000
volunteers and staff across Canada providing vital services and support
to well over half a million Canadians every year.
For
more information on mental health programs and services in your community or to
donate to CMHA, go to CMHA’s website at
cmha.ca and
mentalhealthweek.ca.
Or contact your local CMHA, or any other community mental health
agency/organization, to obtain information on available supports and
services close to you.
