Mental Health | mocoforpublichealth

What is Mental Health? Really

Authors: Riki Doumbia, Sui Sung, Elyssa Lou, Reign Kelly, and Ariana Sukhram
Edited by: Natalie Weger
Published: 6/19/2020

to people with mental health challenges living a shorter life-span than those who do not. One hypothesis is that people with mental health conditions are less likely to seek help for their physical well-being. Another is that optimism, life satisfaction, and happiness factor into the “reduced risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of… age, socioeconomic status, smoking status, or body weight.”[3] Positive emotions may improve your physical health, whereas negative emotions‒like stress‒ have been proven to do the opposite. Regardless of your mental health condition or lack of, it is important to take care of yourself, in all aspects-- mind and body.

The state of your mind affects your physical health, and the opposite is also true. Problems with your physical health can negatively impact your ability to participate in treatment or recovery if the physical problem is a chronic or severe disease.[4] Depression or anxiety can manifest when a diagnosis like cancer is revealed. It is also possible for the treatments that are meant to restore your physical health to have harmful side effects. When undergoing treatments or getting diagnosed with a serious condition, it is important to report the progression of how you are feeling to your doctor(s)

Society still has a long way to go before it reaches a gold standard of mental health support, but in the meantime, try your best to advocate for yourself and take care. Disruptions in the delicate balance of your mental health, as said above, can easily hurt other parts of your body. Especially during times of public emergency like this,* it is important to maintain your mental health. Some people are having difficulty adjusting to the recent disruption of everyday routine, the sharp decline in social interaction, or the increase of dependence on others, such as family. Regardless, all of this is uncharted territory so hesitance, fear, or frustration is understandable. However, being in a frequent state of irritation, sadness, and/or numbness may be indicative of something more.

What can you do for your mental health?

Managing your mental health is no easy feat and can require help from yourself, your friends, family, or a professional’s if needed. You could improve your mental health by incorporating different activities on a daily basis and seeing what works for you.

1) Positive Self-talk

Positive self-talk can be a helpful practice by improving the way you think about yourself and the situation around you. Try to use self-talk that promotes a feeling of self-worth and personal strength. For example, instead of saying “I failed that test. I’m a terrible student,” you could say, “I didn’t do as well as I would’ve liked, but if I put more effort into studying, I’ll definitely do better on the next test.” Positively reframing your thoughts may take a conscious effort at first, but, over time, you may find yourself with a more optimistic outlook and an improved mood overall.

Additionally, exercise could help improve your mental health. Your body releases endorphins during and after a workout, which relieves stress. [5] Other activities that release endorphins include laughing, eating chocolate, and petting your cat or dog for a few minutes if you have one.

Eating disorders are characterized by a distorted body image and unhealthy eating habits. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are the most present examples. If you or others recognize symptoms, seek help from a mental health professional or your primary care physician.

Issues concerning mental health can promptly affect other areas of your body’s system. Poor maintenance of your mental health can increase the risks of different types of physical problems. Many studies have pointed

Lately, mental health has been a topic often visited by the news, schools, and social media. Mental health conversations are usually coupled with words like destigmatization, cognitive, and possibly the most famous one— therapy. The point is that talking about mental health has recently skyrocketed in popularity—but what exactly is it?

Mental health is defined by the CDC as “[a] person’s emotional, psychological and social well-being.”[1] Mental health is connected to the conditions that affect your behavior, feelings, thoughts, and mood. Positive mental health helps cope with stress, facilitate productive working, and make meaningful contributions to the community. [2] A decline in mental health or the manifestation of a disorder can be a result of factors that are situational, biological, genetic, or, likely, a combination. Each person’s experience with a mental health disorder is unique. It is even possible that over time, the way that a disorder affects a single person can change drastically.

Some of the most common types of mental disorders are personality, mood, anxiety, and eating disorders. Personality disorders are characterized as a rigid way of thinking, behaving, and feeling that causes problems with functioning in society. Examples are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

Mood disorders are when one’s feelings and state of thinking are distorted or do not exactly match up with their environment. Depression, bipolar disorder I and II, cyclothymic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder are socially prevalent mood disorders.

Anxiety disorders are when one experiences feelings of intense stress and worry that they are disproportionate to an actual event. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety are common anxiety disorders.

4) Stay Connected

Furthermore, being connected with your loved ones and those who are supportive is a great way to protect and improve your mental health. During this pandemic, we may be missing those we love and care for. However, staying connected can relieve a lot of stress and can be an outlet for many of the emotions we are feeling. [6] It is important to note that, while venting to your friends and family may relieve stress, make sure to encourage positive and light conversations as well.

If you are struggling with your mental health for any reason, you are NOT alone. Struggling with mental health is nothing to be ashamed about. Each person will encounter events in their life that challenge their mental health, but it is up to you to choose how to overcome them.

2) Exercise

3) Sleep

Getting enough sleep is also important. Staying home for extended periods of time may feel like a vacation, which can make it easier to disrupt your sleep schedule, but staying up and waking up late contradicts your natural body

Mental health can be challenging to manage on your own, so seeking the help of professionals is perfectly normal. Those in Montgomery County can use the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Program (CABHS)[7] which helps those with emotional, behavioral, substance abuse and victimization issues. The payment is based on family income and children from 5-18 are eligible for this program. In Maryland, there is a statute that says, those 16 years and older have the capacity as an adult to consent to consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of a mental or disorder by a physician, psychologist, or clinic. [8] In the midst of the pandemic, many offices have switched

to telehealth appointments for your safety and convenience. It is important to take care of your mental health as much as you take care of your physical health. Visiting a therapist or psychologist is as important as going to a doctor’s appointment. Finding the right counselor is not always easy. It is a process, which means that you may not find the right person on your first try. If that’s the case, it is perfectly normal to seek help from other professionals until you find the right fit for you and your needs.

Remember, there is no single strategy to improve, fix, or maintain your mental health status. As each person’s experiences are unique, so are the methods and techniques that are effective and attainable for each person, which is why it is important to educate yourself and spread awareness, so that you are better equipped to support yourself and others who may be struggling with mental health.

clock, resulting in prolonged fatigue. Constantly feeling tired can cause a decline in your mental and physical health, so it is important to maintain healthy sleep habits as much as possible.

Video by: Evelyn Shue and Jake Lee

Resources for YOU

For All:

1) https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-events

Want to get involved? The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) participates in several annual mental health awareness events. These events help to educate the public and show support for many people who are affected by mental health issues.

Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI

2) https://www.mhanational.org/31-tips-boost-your-mental-health

The Mental health American (MHA) lists helpful tips to help boost your mental health. Learn more about staying mentally healthy by visiting their website. Mental Health America’s Advocacy network is a powerful voice for change!

3) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

NIH (national institute of mental health)- lead federal agency for research on mental disorders

SAMHSA’s National Helpline- 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

4) https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

This National Helpline is a free, confidential (25/7) treatment referral

and information service (provided in english and spanish) for

individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

Also, provides many helpful suggested resources.

5) https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/supporting-a-friend-or-

family-member-with-a-mental-illness

If you want to help support a friend or family member dealing with a mental health disorder, this site provides advice on how to do so. In order to help, look for signs that a friend or family member may experience related to a mental illness. Try to provide them with emotional support, support them with a healthy lifestyle, helping with treatments/ and or medications, and know when something is wrong-or right.

6) https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/psychologists/reasons-to-choose-an-online-psychiatrist/

With online therapy, you can find mental health professionals without ever having to pick up the phone and speak to a receptionist. These extremely helpful counselors provide treatment that involves getting therapy for many mental health issues. This site also provides many reasons why one may choose an online psychiatrist.

7) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/health/mental-health-assessment

If you or a loved one is seeking the help of a therapist, take this 20 minute mental health assessment. This will also help you to decide if a therapist is necessary. This test is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any health condition.

For DMV local:

1)https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/Program.aspx?id=BHCS/BHCSAdultmentalhealth-p321.html

The Montgomery County Department Of Health and Human Services provides an adult behavioral health program. It provides services including individual and group psychotherapy, office based care management, and psychiatric medication monitoring to low income residents of Montgomery County. It offers assistance to many who suffer from serious mental disorders and who are not able to access the public mental health system.

2)https://www.mcleancounselingcenter.com/

This local group of mental health professionals aim to improve our community by providing counseling and treatment to individuals with emotional struggles. They treat many mental health illnesses and use psychological knowledge to promote each and every individual's well being. Their programs include: Launch Pad Program, Women’s Emotional Health program, and EMDR Healing Program (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy).