The journey from birth to death of a human, a short and unique adventure for each being, we call life, is driven by different goals and purposes. If one were to be asked ‘What’s your goal in life?’, numerous answers would meet our ears which would take the form of ‘I want to be happy and healthy’, ‘I want to live long with peace of mind’ or ‘I want to be happy’. Happiness is a state of being where it may often be associated with the state of our health. If we are healthy, we are happy! Moving deeper into exploring what being healthy implies, there is no concrete definition. However, it is experienced that most of the world pronounces the importance of physical health, overlooking the significance of mental health.
World Health Organization introduces a definition of mental health as,
“A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO 2001, p.1)”.
Humans, an evolutionarily advanced species, are distinct from most other species by intelligence and rationality. In a sense, humans can feel, understand, and react accordingly. Mental health is the foundation to building a well-balanced person and should be paid attention to, from childhood. An infant or a toddler is mostly unable to perceive things as it is, however children are able to. Much attention is given during childhood to building a stronger and an intelligent mindset, however, is intelligence the same as mental health? Similar to aging, falling into the abyss of mental health issues is also often inevitable, and this may be encountered at different stages in life. However, like a tree that grows tall and mighty, owing to a good root system, humans too can walk ahead in life, steadily and stealthily, when nurtured with care, starting from childhood.
One of the most famous phrases we come across on different occasions in life is ‘prevention is better than cure’ and indeed, to prevent, identification of the reason is essential. Similarly, the reasons that threaten mental health, at different stages in life, should be paid attention to where this could take place at one’s home, school, workplace and so on. Of course, we cannot convince mere strangers to open up however as a single person, we can take the initiative by starting with the people that are in our life. Being observant, understanding, and accepting are of utmost importance when dealing with people who have succumbed to their fears. These are small-scale steps that will undoubtedly leave a tremendous influence on someone else’s well-being, for, sometimes, all we want is to be heard and be understood.
To be aware of the potential occasions under which one’s mental health could be threatened and to communicate what should be done to cope is also important. For example, at school, at college, or business institutions, the amount of work put on one person may exceed their capacity however there should be an environment for people to express their hardships and to be given solutions accordingly so that there will not be many people left behind. It is important to prioritize mental health, and educate people on mental health and how to overcome different threats to mental health. There should be proper guidance systems for people, starting from children, where they learn to communicate and develop alternative pathways to recognize and manage their mental health issues.
It is amazing what a person with a strong mindset can achieve and one cannot always be strong. However, on a more subjective note, there is reason to believe that words have the potential to hold more power than a bullet or a sword. If one finds a way to use words to help others, to be encouraging of good deeds, to compliment and to be pleasant, and above all, to be kind, many lives would be changed for the better. Hence, it is important to initiate this on an individual scale and influence, for it is always the small steps that matter for an endurant journey.
By Rtr. Amashi Uthpala
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References:
- Mental Health and Substance Use (MSD). (2005, January 1). Promoting mental health: concepts, emerging evidence, practice, https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241562943
Stay tuned with our Tranquil U blog series to explore more about mental health.
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