Every year on October 10th, the World Health Organization observes Mental Health Day. In this article, we hope to teach you a little bit more about mental health, what it is, and how to deal with problems that may arise.

What exactly is mental health?

Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being all contribute to our mental health. Our mental health influences how we think, feel, and conduct.

People might suffer from a wide range of mental health issues. Anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, body dysmorphia, depression, eating disorders, loneliness, paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions are examples.

Having excellent mental health involves being able to think, feel, and react to situations in the manner you wish. Positive mental health enables us to reach our full potential, work successfully, and deal with life's difficulties. You may experience times of poor mental health, but that does not imply you cannot overcome it or learn to manage with it.

Suffering from mental health issues may be quite unpleasant; ordinary things that you normally enjoy might feel exhausting, and you may begin to feel overwhelmed. It is just as vital to care for our mental health as it is to care for our physical health. It is important to remember that it is okay to ask for help with your mental health, the same way it is okay to ask for help when we get a physical injury.

There are some early warning signs for mental health problems, just like there are for other things. Here are a few examples:

• Having low or no energy
• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Feeling numb or as if nothing matters
• Isolation from people and routine activities
• Being easily annoyed by friends and family
• Smoking and drinking excessively

We all experience lows from time to time; the most important thing is to recognise and remind yourself that it's alright to feel down sometimes. You must also make yourself aware that there is assistance available to assist you in getting your mental health better again.

To learn more about mental health, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/wellbeing.htm

Things to do to look after your mental health: 

• Talk about your feelings — talking about your thoughts is good since it allows you to get things off your chest. You don't have to talk to someone at work; you can speak to friends, relatives, or anybody else you trust. Talking might lead to us talking about topics that are unconsciously worrying us out and we are unaware of it.
• Eat healthily — Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet benefits us not just in the long run, but also in the short term. When we feel low, we desire more junk food and takeout. Setting up a weekly lunch plan, as tempting as it is to order food into work encourages you to eat healthier. This is because you’re spending time preparing your own nutritious meals.
• Take part – When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These bind to receptors in our brain, improving your self-esteem, allowing you to focus, sleep, feel, and look better.
• Take a break — frequent breaks at work allow you to de-stress. Even if it's only a 5-minute break from your computer to listen to a podcast.

Things to do while assisting a colleague suffering from mental health issues: 

• Make them feel at ease and welcome to talk to you at any time. They may not want to talk to you right now, but they may later feel the need for someone to listen to them and approach you.
• Never make them feel as if you are passing judgement on them. Never criticise someone who is trusting you enough to discuss their difficulties with you because they will feel as if they can never trust you or anyone else again. You must tell them that everything will be okay and that talking about it is the first step in improving their mental health.
• Try to maintain eye contact while listening. Make sure you are not distracted by something else while someone is telling you about their issues. Try to maintain as much eye contact as possible; this shows that you are paying attention and are interested in what they are saying.

We hope this article has made you more aware of the different types of mental health issues, how to look after your own mental health, how you can raise awareness in the workplace as an employer and how to support a colleague suffering from mental health issues. Remember the first step to getting help is realising you may need help.