Today Is World Mental Health Day!

“Mental Health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

During these trying times, many have been facing financial, physical, and emotional challenges. There seems to be more stress, less productivity, and making a contribution to the community is nearly illegal in some states. Each of these factors can lead to mental health struggles if not dealt with in a healthy way, and we have seen a spike in mental health illness in the past six months due to the stress brought on by COVID-19.

It’s important to know what mental health is, common signs and symptoms, and treatment available so you can maintain optimum mental health and “live your best life”.

Mental health “includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act” (mentalhealth.gov).

Early Warning Signs

Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:

  • Eating or sleeping too much or too little

  • Pulling away from people and usual activities

  • Having low or no energy

  • Feeling numb or like nothing matters

  • Having unexplained aches and pains

  • Feeling helpless or hopeless

  • Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual

  • Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared

  • Yelling or fighting with family and friends

  • Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships

  • Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head

  • Hearing voices or believing things that are not true

  • Thinking of harming yourself or others

  • Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness.

Risk Factors:

  • Early adverse life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)

  • Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditionCdc-pdf, such as cancer or diabetes.

  • Biological factors, such as genes or chemical imbalances in the brain

  • Use of alcohol or recreational drugs

  • Having few friends

  • Having feeling of loneliness or isolation

    Learn more at: cdc.gov/mentalhealth

The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that around 1 in 5 adults experience mental health problems each year in the U.S.

Common Mental Health Illnesses:

  • Schizophrenia

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Bipolar

Mental health is “more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.” Maintaining excellent mental health is about looking after ongoing wellness and happiness. Preserving and restoring mental health is crucial. (medicalnewstoday.com)

If you are feeling down and sad, these feelings can affect day to day activities such as simple conversation, interacting with others, appetite, and motivation to work. 

Just as poor mental health can adversely affect thoughts, behavior, and mood, good mental health can bring fulfillment, gratitude, motivation, and success - even in times of hardship.

“Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health.” - World Health Organization

Ways to promote mental health:

  • early childhood interventions (e.g. providing a stable environment that is sensitive to children’s health and nutritional needs, with protection from threats, opportunities for early learning, and interactions that are responsive, emotionally supportive and developmentally stimulating);

  • support to children (e.g. life skills programmes, child and youth development programmes);

  • socio-economic empowerment of women (e.g. improving access to education and microcredit schemes);

  • social support for elderly populations (e.g. befriending initiatives, community and day centres for the aged);

  • programmes targeted at vulnerable people, including minorities, indigenous people, migrants and people affected by conflicts and disasters (e.g. psycho-social interventions after disasters);

  • mental health promotional activities in schools (e.g. programmes involving supportive ecological changes in schools);

  • mental health interventions at work (e.g. stress prevention programmes);

For more visit: who.int

Learn about the personal mental health journey of one of our Vista Healthcare employees:

Hi there! I’m Amanda Penrod, and I’m a BYU-Idaho alumna. You probably haven’t seen my face around the office before, and that’s because I do most of the online work at Vista Healthcare. I love for a number of reasons, but most importantly because of the value Vista Healthcare puts on the overall health of each person in the Vista Family. 

I struggled for most of my teen life with thoughts of suicide, eating disorders, severe depression, and anxiety. It got to the point where I took steps to end my own life. 

With a nudge from God, I decided to tell someone, and with the help of professional healthcare providers, I have worked through and am on top of my mental health challenges. It took therapy, medication, and treatment to uproot past pain so I could begin creating a healthy inner dialogue. 

The work was so worth it. My life before and after I received help is like black and white. Now I have such hope, happiness, and enthusiasm for life that I never had before. My only regret is not reaching out for help sooner. If you have experienced any of these same thoughts and feelings, I urge you to find help. Do it today. Your life will forever be changed for the better. These women at Vista Healthcare know their stuff. They are in their offices waiting to meet you and help you on your path to better mental health.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, tens of millions in the United States are affected by mental illnesses each year but “only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment.” Let’s change that statistic. If you are or think you are struggling with mental illness; receive treatment; know there is hope.

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