Mental Health

Photo credit: maritime first newspaper
Good day everyone, compliments of the season to you and yours. As the year gradually comes to an end, we will be re-visiting part of the theme of this year’s world mental health day celebration- talking about mental health promotion. In the next couple of days, we will be looking at ways we can promote our mental health as individuals, families as well as societal measures. We will also look at the characteristics of people with good mental health and the relationship between resilience and good mental health. It is hoped that this knowledge will help us become better as we march into the next decade.
By way of definition, health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO). So to achieve good health, one must be healthy mentally. Good mental health goes beyond the absence of mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia and the likes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a person is mentally healthy when he/she is able to realize his/her abilities, is able to cope with life’s normal stresses, can work productively/fruitfully and is also able to make a positive contribution to his or her community.
Mental health promotion aims to protect and support emotional and social well being as well as create conducive environment to increase the mental capacity of individuals, families and societies.
More posts coming up soon.

Written by Dr. Rebecca Ekochin