What is Mental Health?

As the Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan addressed the Oireachtas this week about the return to activities, such as:

• Socializing
• Exercise
• Work
• Travel

The entire country can breathe a sigh of relief, the long-awaited break from our COVID nightmare might just be coming to an end. Of course, this can mean getting back into society after a long wait and some of us can feel nervous or anxious which is completely understandable.

Understanding Mental Heath

When it comes to our mental health, many people can dismiss it. With the amount of physical or tangible problems we all face daily, they are easier to see and fix. Trying to care for something you cannot see, can be a tricky one.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have felt isolated, anxious, stressed, and worried about ourselves and our loved ones. All of this can take its toll on your overall mental health.
Today, let’s dive deeper into what mental health is, its potential warning signs, and some easy steps to help you or a loved one.

What is Mental Health?

Your mental health, includes your emotions, psychological and social well-being. It can affect how you think, feel and act. It can also help determine how we handle our stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Mental health, is important at every stage of life, from childhood through adolescence right to adulthood. Just like you would try to eat a balanced diet and exercise, there are ways you can look after your mental health too. Below are potential signs of bad/unhealthy mental health as well as our top 5 steps towards good mental health and wellbeing.

Warning Signs To Look For:

When our bodies are run down or unwell, we know what symptoms to look out for such as tiredness, cold/flu etc. The same can be said for your mental health. There are signs and symptoms to look out for to help you keep on track.

Examples of signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling sad or down
• Confusion or unable to concentrate
• Excessive feelings of fear or worries
• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
• Withdrawal from friends/family and other activities
• Low energy or problems sleeping
• Unable to cope with daily problems or stress
• Major changes in eating habits
• Troubles in understanding or relating to situations or people

When it comes to caring for your mental health, there is nothing to feel ashamed of, we can all have our ups and downs. Asking for help and turning to the ones we love can be a great help when trying to focus on your health and wellbeing.

5 Steps Towards Good Mental Health:

1.Talk about your feelings

Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy. Talking with a friend, family member or a medical professional can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while.

Just being able to talk and be listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. The great thing is, when you open up, it might even encourage others to do the same.

It might feel awkward at first to get the conversation going. But if there is one thing we Irish are good at, it’s popping the kettle on and having a good chat.

2. Get your heart pumping 

Experts believe that exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. It’s true, ever gone for a walk or a cycle and come back feeling energised or more alert?

Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better.

Exercising doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go to the gym or join a team. It could be a walk in the park, gardening or housework – it all keeps you active.

In fact, experts say most people should do around 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week. That could be 30 mins of cleaning the house, washing the car, going for a walk or at home yoga.

3. Eat & drink well

You’ve heard the old saying ”you are what you eat”. Well, there are strong links between what we eat and how we feel, for example, when you drink coffee or eat something with sugar, they can have an immediate effect on how you feel.

What you eat and drink can have a long-lasting effect on your mental health. Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like any other organ in your body.

Think of it this way: a diet that is good for your physical health is also great for your mental health. Two birds with one stone!

A good healthy and balanced diet would include:

• a mix of fruit and vegetables
• nuts and seeds
• dairy products
• wholegrain cereals and bread
• red meat and oily fish
• plenty of water

4. Take a break 

We all have busy lifestyles, whether its looking after the kids, caring for loved ones, dealing with pressures from work. It can all add up!

A change of scene or a change of pace can do wonders for your mental health. It could be a 10 min break for a cuppa while you clean the kitchen, a little longer lunch break from work or a weekend away exploring somewhere new.

Just a few minutes can be enough to de-stress. Give yourself some ‘me time‘.

5. Ask for help

While we may think or wish it, none of us are superhuman. We can all get tired or overwhelmed sometimes by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting to be too much or you feel you can’t cope, ask for help.

Your family or friends may be able to offer a helping hand or an ear. Of course, if you feel you can’t talk to them, there is always the option to talk to your doctor or a counselor. Mental Health Ireland has a number of support options and tips available on their website. Feel free to reach out to them.