Psychological health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being and influences how people perceive their lives, interact with others and make decisions. It also determines how an individual handles stress, works productively and makes a contribution to their community. Having good mental health enables an individual to realize their full potential and cope with life’s challenges, even in the face of adversity. Moreover, mental wellness influences physical health through positive and negative behavioral effects on one’s body.
A person’s mental health can be affected by their environment, family, friends, and lifestyle. It may also be influenced by genetics and the way a person deals with stress. Mental health is essential for overall well-being and the ability to work and function in society.
According to the World Health Organization, “health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Many people with mental illnesses experience poor performance at school or work, problems in their relationships and feelings of hopelessness or despair. If left untreated, these problems can lead to drug abuse and even suicide. Despite this, only half of the people with mental disorders receive treatment. Many don’t seek help because of the stigma attached to mental illness.
Mental illness is characterized by an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neuro transmitters that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance, it causes a person to have difficulty thinking clearly, forming memories and emotions, or controlling their behavior.
While there are many different treatments for mental illnesses, all of them involve talking therapies that allow an individual to express their emotions with a trained counselor. Often, people will report feeling better after receiving therapy. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the problem that brought them to counseling will disappear, but it does signify that they have found a way to manage their symptoms.
The benefits of psychotherapy are vast. Research shows that it improves cognitive functions, helps people handle stress, and allows them to develop healthy relationships. It has also been linked to lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease. Besides that, it can reduce the amount of pain that people with chronic conditions feel. In addition, it can improve a person’s mood and reduce feelings of sadness and depression.
The goal of mental health promotion and prevention is to reduce risks, build resilience, establish supportive environments and facilitate recovery from mental illness. This can be done at local, national and international levels. It involves the education, labour, transportation, housing, justice, and other sectors of society. This approach can lead to significant improvements in mental health, as seen in a study that showed a one point decrease on a symptom scale was associated with a 6 per cent reduction in clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorder. This proves that the determinants of mental health can be changed through multi-sectoral interventions.