WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH?

Being mentally healthy is a vital part of overall wellbeing and good health. According to the World Health organization “Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. If someone is not mentally healthy, she/he can have various issues or can develop mental illnesses or disorders which could be lethal too.

What is mental health, characteristics of poor and good mental health importance is discussed in another blog? This blog will focus on the importance of mental health.  I will also tell you about mental health statistics around the globe.

Importance of Mental Health

Mental health importance is all about our thinking, feelings, emotions, and moods. It is extremely important for a productive and satisfying life. If a person is mentally healthy, he or she can handle daily life problems effectively and is not prone to mental illnesses.

Good mental health helps us to make better judgments and decisions. It is very much important for healthy relationships and peace of mind. Self-esteem and self-confidence are also influenced by mental health. Being in positive and good mental health helps us achieve happiness and enjoyment in life.

Mental health also plays a vital role in how a person perceives her/himself, others, the future, and different situations in life. If the mental health is poor then everything will seem negative, bad, and non-satisfactory. On the other hand, a person with good and positive mental health will analyze different situations realistically, make good decisions, and enjoys life to the fullest.

Mental health plays a crucial role in all stages of life. It affects all areas of life. Every parent should be concerned about the mental health of their child as most of the problems related to mental illnesses started to develop from childhood and they emerge as a full-blown disorder in adolescence and adulthood.

If our children are mentally healthy, then we will have healthy generations. They will, later on, contribute to society and the welfare of other human beings. Giving healthy food is not enough; we should also have to focus on the mental health of our children to make them happy, contented, and productive individuals.

To sum it up all, we could say that good mental health is important as it plays a vital role in our life for the following reasons:

• A person will realize and then utilize his/her full potential/self-actualization.
• Is a productive individual for him/herself, family, and society and for the community
• Is able to cope with life struggles, changes, problems, and stresses.
• Will be able to maintain good and healthy relationships.
• Will be in good health and free from mental illnesses.
• It will also protect you from physical illnesses
• Will be active and energetic

Mental Health Statistics

Poor mental health affects people globally. Poor mental health can also lead to addiction and many negative, stressful and problematic consequences. Every 1 person out of 4 is affected with a mental health problem globally. This is an alarming situation. Mental health does not discriminate whether a person is white, black, short, tall, young, or old, it can affect anyone.

In the USA alone, every one person out of 12 has a Substance Use Disorder, which is either a consequence of poor mental health or could lead to other mental and physical health problems. One person out of every 24 is suffering from a serious mental illness and every fifth person has some kind of mild mental illness in the USA. (American Psychiatric Association)

According to a 2017 Global Burden of Disease study, “792 million people lived with a mental health disorder. This is slightly more than one in ten people globally (10.7%)”. It further states that 284 million people are suffering from anxiety disorders, 264 million people from depression, 46 million people from bipolar disorder, 16 million from eating disorders, and 20 million from schizophrenia worldwide. It also states that 970 million people have a comorbidity of mental illnesses with a substance use disorder. 107 million people are suffering from alcohol use disorders and 71 million people have other drug use disorders excluding alcohol use disorders around the world.

Mental health importance and substance use problems are increasing at an alarming rate. If you know anyone suffering from mental health issues or substance use disorders, you can refer them to PRC Rehabilitation Center or call for further information.