THINK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH ON WORLD HEALTH DAY

What is World Health Day?

April 7th marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, this year celebrating its 75th anniversary. Each year, the organisation selects a different theme, chosen based on suggestions from its member governments and staff. This year's theme is Health for All, with a goal to break down barriers to health care and increase campaigns and awareness programmes, placing global health and its complexities into the spotlight.

The WHO's mission is to promote health while keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable. The organisation maintains that health is among our human rights. Their goal is to allow everyone to attain the highest level of health and well-being possible. Mental health and physical health are equally as important in one's overall health.

What does World Health Day celebrate?

This day serves as a time of reflection to look at the transformations in medicine as well as the successes that have improved the quality of life of many over the last 75 years. The day further acts to recognise and promote global physical, mental, and emotional well-being and health conditions. The WHO emphasises that World Health Day is "also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today - and tomorrow".

Why is mental health important?

Among World Health Day's goals, mental health needs are equally as important as those of physical health. Mental health plays a pivotal role in all aspects of life – it affects how we think, feel, and act in response to life's different stimuli. It is further important because it allows us to cope with the stressors of life, maintain healthy relationships, be productive, keep physically healthy, and realise one's full potential.

What are ways to improve mental health?

Good mental health can make a person more equipped to deal with the many elements of daily life. Mental health further leads to positive outcomes for one's overall health. It can be influenced by a plethora of factors.

Can you improve mental health naturally?

Mental health promotion can also take form in many ways and can be manifested through different life activities, acting as protective factors against different mental disorders and mental health issues.

• Practice gratitude: By actively being grateful for things in your life, you can start to see your life differently. Practising gratitude can lead to experiencing stressful situations with less negative affect, allowing time to notice moments filled with positive emotions amidst the negative ones. Positivity can act as a shield whereby the stressors and daily tasks of life can feel less daunting.

• Get outside: Spending time outside can have large benefits on our mental health. Outdoor exposure can act among other things as a natural energy booster, increasing feelings of positivity, reducing feelings of stress, depression, and other mental health difficulties, as well as improving overall health and mental well-being.

• Relax: Self-care is health care. By allowing yourself some well-deserved 'me time' you refuel your energy levels, leaving you more equipped to tackle the stressors and challenges of daily life. Whether it's running a long bath, reading a book, or taking a scheduled break from screens, your body and brain will thank you in the long run. There are also more formal relaxation techniques which can be performed upon waking, mid-day, or before bed.

1. Progressive relaxation - involving the tightening and relaxing of different muscle groups - can help bring a state of calm over the whole body and mind.
2. Guided imagery, where focusing on positive mental images can lead to increased focus and relaxation is another highly regarded form of relaxation.
3. Deep breathing, taking slow and even deep breaths is another technique that can easily be adopted to trigger a state of relaxation

• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is directly linked to increases in mental well-being. By focusing on the here-and-now, you become aware, without judgement or interpretation of your sensations and feelings in the given moment. Mindfulness can involve the practice of different breathing methods and techniques, leading to a relaxed body and mind.
• Connect with others: Fostering connections with others can be of great benefit. For one, it increases one's sense of belonging, which can reduce feelings of loneliness - a commonality among many with mental illnesses. Connection with others can be as simple as taking time to be with your family, setting a date with friends you haven't seen in a while, or even lending a hand to a stranger. Sharing a connection with others provides a sense of emotional support, allowing you in turn to support others. These reciprocal relationships are what we find most gratifying and are what will lead to the greatest state of mental well-being.
• Tap into your creative side: Creative expression and overall well-being are linked together. This can be in the form of journaling, dancing, or learning a new skill. Taking on new tasks and challenges works to boost self-confidence and self-esteem, helping enhance one's sense of purpose.
• Take care of your physical health: Mental and physical health go hand in hand. When either of the two is enhanced, the other also thrives. Engaging in physical exercise leads to an increase in production of endorphins, the feel-good chemical, in the brain. Endorphins can reduce the sensation of pain and trigger positive feelings in the body. Such changes can also lead to increases in self-esteem. Physical activity can range anywhere from a short walk during lunchtime to high-intensity training. A balance of activities of both intensities throughout the week is ideal for more long-term effects. Other activities include yoga, weight training, and CrossFit.
• Consider your diet: Diet and nutrition play a large role in mental health. At The Kusnacht Practice, our team of nutritionists, dieticians, and experts use medical excellence to create individualised meal and supplement plans which restore and boost your overall health conditions.

Mental health treatment

Mental health is just as important as physical health to one's overall health condition. By taking time to improve our mental health conditions we evolve ourselves, allowing for the potential to achieve a greater state of well-being. Better mental health outcomes lead to a better quality of life, leading people to be able to sit back from time to time and enjoy life.

At The Kusnacht Practice, our team of experts are equipped to help with a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, and trauma. Treatments of Psychotherapeutic care, Medical treatment and care, Biomolecular Restoration, and Family systems therapy are also available. Get in touch if you or someone you know needs treatment for any mental health concerns.