Hello everyone,
Today, the 10th of October, is a significant day. It's World Mental Health Day. This day is all about unity, understanding, and most importantly, raising awareness about the importance of mental health. It's a day to remind everyone that mental health matters, and it's perfectly okay to ask for help, no matter what you're going through.
As an Occupational Therapist, I am acutely aware of the profound impact mental health can have on an individual's ability to function in their roles, routines, and habits. Mental health issues can disrupt a person's daily routines, affect their ability to perform tasks, and strain their relationships. This can lead to difficulties in carrying out occupations, which are the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families, and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life.
These occupations include self-care, productivity, and leisure. Without good mental health, these occupations can be significantly affected, hindering a person's ability to live independently, work effectively, enjoy leisure time, and maintain healthy relationships.
As Occupational Therapists, our role is to support individuals in overcoming these challenges, enabling them to participate in the occupations of everyday life. This can involve adapting the environment, modifying the task, teaching new skills, or educating the individual on ways to manage their mental health.
Mental health can significantly influence our occupations, which include everything we need to do, want to do, or that defines us and is important to us. Here's how:
Daily Routines: Mental health conditions can disrupt our daily routines. For instance, depression might make it hard to get out of bed, affecting our ability to perform basic tasks like cooking, cleaning, or even personal hygiene.
Work Performance: Mental health can impact our ability to concentrate, make decisions, and stay productive at work. This can affect our job satisfaction and career progression.
Relationships: Mental health issues can affect our ability to interact with others, potentially straining personal and professional relationships.
Leisure Activities: Mental health conditions can sap our energy and motivation, making it difficult to engage in hobbies or activities we usually enjoy.
Self-Care: Mental health issues can affect our ability to take care of ourselves, including eating healthily, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.
Life Roles: Mental health can impact our ability to fulfil various life roles, such as being a parent, a partner, a student, or a friend.
Remember, it's okay to ask for help if you're struggling with your mental health.
The Mental Health Foundation provides valuable insights into mental health and emphasises the role each one of us plays in prevention. They categorise prevention into three types:
Primary Prevention: The first step in mental health care is prevention. This involves creating an environment that supports mental wellbeing and resilience, and equipping individuals with the tools they need to maintain their mental health.
Secondary Prevention: Support for High-Risk Groups: Certain groups, such as those with brain injuries, are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health problems. Tailored support for these individuals can help manage their mental health effectively.
Tertiary Prevention: Ongoing Support: For those living with mental health problems, ongoing support is crucial. This could involve regular check-ins, access to therapy or counselling, and medication management.
Drawing on the pillars of lifestyle medicine, here are my top 6 tips for maintaining good mental health:
Healthy Eating: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can boost your mood and energy levels, contributing to overall mental wellbeing.
Physical Activity: Regular exercise is known to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Adequate Sleep: Quality sleep is essential for mental health. Try to establish a regular sleep schedule and create a restful environment to improve your sleep.
Stress Management: Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing can help manage stress levels, which is crucial for mental health.
Avoid Harmful Substances: Avoid excessive alcohol and refrain from using illicit substances. These can exacerbate mental health issues and can interfere with the effectiveness of prescribed medication.
Social Connection: Maintaining strong relationships with family and friends can provide a valuable support network. Social interaction can significantly improve your mood and mental health.
Most importantly, remember, it's okay to ask for help if you're struggling with your mental health. There are resources and professionals available to provide support and help manage your mental health.
On this World Mental Health Day, let's pledge to protect, promote and respect the mental health of everyone we interact with - our clients, the students we guide, the dedicated occupational therapists we supervise, our colleagues, and of course, ourselves. Because mental health is a universal human right.
Stay strong, stay healthy, and remember, it's okay not to be okay.
*The information provided in this blog post is intended to be general in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for medical advice. If you have any health concerns or if you are experiencing symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately. If your situation is urgent, contact your local emergency services.
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