A reduction in chronic pain was reported in a study on the benefits of having a health coach when facing severe medical problems. During this week, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and its supporters dedicate themselves to spreading awareness and understanding of mental illness across the country through support, education, and advocacy. There are also mental health professionals who are trained to help you with these concerns. That can sound scary, but it’s actually better than avoiding your pain. Dwyer, S. C., Piquette, N., Buckle, J. L., & McCaslin, E. (2013). Caitlin Jenks. For more information, you can also read our post on the scientifically proven Benefits of Counseling. Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our 3 Positive Psychology Exercises for free. Mental health counselors play a critical role in helping people who are experiencing mental or emotional problems get their lives back on track. Thanks for this wonderful insights it really helps a lot , knowing that there is really a stigma in counseling , positive psychology thru your article will be a big thing . Having a trained coach can create areas of growth that clear the way for massive personal improvement. Although some people seek professional counseling, others may be skeptical of how a counselor or therapist can help them. One goal for having a designated Mental Health Awareness Sunday is to make ourselves and our congregation more welcoming and nurturing for people with mental illnesses or brain disorders. 28 Mental Health Activities, Worksheets & Books for Adults & Students, The Positive Effects Of Nature On Your Mental Well-Being, 11 Activities and Exercises to Induce a Flow State (+ 6 Examples), How Psychology Combats False and Self-Limiting Beliefs, Body-Mind Integration: Training Attention for Mental and Physical Health, 32 Best Mental Health Books for Increasing Your Well-Being, Before you read on, we thought you might like to. When you confront your feelings head on, you’re able to better understand what you’re going through, process those feelings, and move on. The benefits are outlined in The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubmorisky. When you feel those feelings, own them. At Compass Health, we know that mental health is one part of the whole person. Raising awareness and increasing the understanding of mental health can change the way society views and responds to this complex issue. 5 Things You Can Do To Realize These Benefits 1. of mental health as one of its priority project under the mental health Global Action Programme (mhGAP).The project will identify the most effective strategies in this field across different cul-tures and help countries to implement and evaluate them. And thanks to regulatory changes and years of improved awareness, mental healthcare coverage is more accessible than ever. Improve productivity by fostering good mental health. Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and we have been compensated through BetterHelp.com. The benefits of mental health far outweigh the effort it takes to begin a practice for improvement. contains over 300 science-based positive psychology exercises, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments for practitioners to use in their therapy, coaching, or workplace. Adolescent use of reflective journaling has shown increases in self-efficacy, self-regulation, and self-motivation. Astonishingly, most of the population fails to come close to meeting the guidelines to improve their well being. The research has not determined which type of exercise is the most beneficial for mental health. If you wish for more, our Positive Psychology Toolkit© contains over 300 science-based positive psychology exercises, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments for practitioners to use in their therapy, coaching, or workplace. Keeping track of thoughts, actions, and motivations can be very powerful when actively reflecting on personal change. You should select the communication method that … That’s the thing about living with mental health issues—it can make you feel isolated and different. Fight addiction. 2421 The Huffington Post Mental illnesses aren’t pretty; in fact, they can be pretty scary. Mental illness is a major global health issue. Exercise and Mental Health: Many Reasons to Move. Why Mental Illness Awareness Is So important Too many people are affected for us to pretend that it doesn't exist. Provides a better understanding of how mental illness can affect a person's life. When thoughts and feelings are interfering with your daily life, advice can be very helpful. The Netherlands My uncle told my dad that he is having mental problems because he was thinking about suicide and my dad is really worried about it. Notice what is helping me. People struggling with their mental health may be in your family, live next door, teach your children, work in the next cubicle or sit in the same church pew. Prevention is concerned with avoiding disease while promotion is about improving health and well being. Whether it’s grabbing a friend to start a walking practice, or heading off to the store to pick out a notebook to start your journaling practice, you can begin today. Improved self-expression and management of emotions. Details: Benefits of Good Mental Health Just as physical fitness helps our bodies to stay strong, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. Improving your mental health improves not only you but also the world around you. Engaging in the activities that come most naturally to a practitioner are specific ways to improve mental health. If you want to become a blog contributor, please reach out to us. Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness, so taking a week to highlight the importance of mental … Consider your mental health like a piggy bank. My sister has been feeling a little down lately ever since she was fired from her job where she worked for almost ten years. When we are mentally healthy, we enjoy our life and environment, and the people in it. Exercise reduces sensitivity to that stress, allowing for the brain to function properly. Pro: Raises awareness. Participants from this study were instructed on effective journaling practice, in addition to group counseling. The state of our mental health affects our relationships. Hence, ‘awareness’ of mental health is harder to embed (and “armchair diagnosis” of someone you’ve seen on TV is a very suspect practice). Lehmann, M. L., Weigel, T. K., Elkahloun, A. G., & Herkenham, M. (2017). Minimise absence caused by poor mental health. I did not know that stress also leads to decreased concentration and memory, confusion, loss of sense of humor, anger, irritability, and fear. But raising awareness is just the … HealthComU is a blog where passionate health communicators across the United States come to connect and collaborate online. Caitlin Jenks. Regular exercise increases the body’s ability to reduce that inflammation, therefore, slowing the aging process. For example, conditions like schizophrenia often present in the early 20s. The fitness industry has decades of research showing the benefits of taking special and intentional care of one’s body. Your email address will not be published. as a reduction of morbidity from mental illness and the enhance- ment of the coping capacities of a member of a community. The absence of mental illness does not equal mental health. In fact, as of 2014, even small employer and individual health plans are required to include coverage. Jumping in with excessive weight training or aerobic exercise can be harmful and lessen the willingness to continue with the practice. Coaches specialize their practices, just as counselors do, to best serve their clients. Health and Wellness. When she isn’t gleefully helping humans move toward flourishing, she enjoys National Park hikes and spending quality time with her adventurous family. Men tend to seek help less actively than women (McKelley, 2007) but are more likely to seek coaching due to the reduced stigma attached. Research has shown improvement in breast cancer patient recovery through the use of journaling. Greensboro, North Carolina. What Are Intrusive Thoughts in OCD & How to Get Rid Of Them? B. We are all one decision away from the many benefits of mental health. There is a limited amount of empirical research in the area of coaching. Consult with Lighthouse Mental Health Counseling Services, PLLC to improve your mental health and also the world around you. Self-awareness has been the key for me to manage my mental illnesses. Raising awareness of potential mental health issues in the workplace is part of fostering an inclusive workplace, where people feel able to bring their whole selves to work. This article has been very much Useful and Informative, I loved reading an article with general knowledge which I can share with my friends and family. Hence, ‘awareness’ of mental health is harder to embed (and “armchair diagnosis” of someone you’ve seen on TV is a very suspect practice). We can all do better, and trained professionals are valued allies in that journey. Mental Health Awareness at Work. This is likely because historically, medicine has studied what was wrong so that it could be cured. Even if it’s hard to do, find someone you feel comfortable with and talk about your feelings. We will inevitably have interactions and experiences that are negative that deplete that bank. Read more: 6 companies that launched innovative mental health benefits this year Benefits of mental health through physical fitness include, but aren’t limited to: Counseling has, unfortunately, had a stigma attached. Monitoring: At different ages, our risk for certain conditions changes. Mental health awareness increases the chances for early intervention, which can result in a fast recovery. it means being mindful of your triggers and noticing if something makes you anxious or depressed. That’s why we’ve been thinking that maybe mental health counseling will help her get over it slowly. To reap the benefits of mental health, special attention to the growth of practices that improve mental health is necessary. A school intervention study (Zyromski, 2009) found reflective journaling promoted increased academic achievement and reduced instances of violence. Journaling has also been proven to improve critical thinking skills. There are a million ways to start a journaling practice. Many advocating for those with mental health conditions observe Mental Health Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Week and speak of their importance. You’ll be able to help improve the laws governing mental health albeit in a small way. A more recent approach to physical and mental well-being has been prevention. That’s the thing about living with mental health issues—it can make you feel isolated and different. Those who have a consistent practice in boosting mental health have a larger account in which they regularly deposit those dividends. Being aware and sensitive to mental health is important for many reasons. Healthy living is beneficial for the physical body, but it can also benefit our mental health. Mar 06, 2017. Education professionals have recognized the impact that a student's mental health has on learning and achievement, and they realize that there's a great deal that can be done to help students with mental health issues. One in five people living with mental illness means that if you’re sitting at a table for lunch with five of your friends, one of you likely has anxiety, depression, bipolar, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or another mental illness. Counseling. Kelly Miller is a graduate of the Flourishing Center’s CAPP program and published author of Jane's Worry Elephant. I encourage everyone to work on developing self-awareness in order to receive all the benefits I do. These illnesses can be managed by treatment. Move your body. The benefits of training managers in mental health awareness are: Remove the stigma surrounding the subject of mental health in the work place. This is wonderful insights at present there are a of students suffering from stress, on which the article said that it resulted to poor memory and difficulty in concentrating which I assume will lead to poor decision making. Thank you. The stress from the interactions that are defeating alter parts of the brain and can show up in humans as anxiety or depression. There is no human (not even the Dalai Lama) who can say that they have achieved perfection in mental health. Teen Depression: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms and Helping Your Child, Anxiety and Sleep: Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep, Sexual Assault Awareness: Rethinking Our Audience, Tanning, Skin Cancer Risk, and Prevention. It’s helpful to be able to describe my experiences with … We all have work to do. There is also a growing concern that treatment provided is of a poor quality. A coach helps keep things on track and improves communication between doctors and patients (Leville, 2009). In fact, as of 2014, even small employer and individual health plans are required to include coverage. The benefits can be seen not only in mental, but also physical wellness. Another interesting study was done in Canada (Dwyer, 2013), illustrating the benefits of journaling as a counseling tool for women overcoming a gambling addiction. Mental Health Awareness According to the World Health Organization, in low and middle income countries, 75%-85% of people with mental disorders receive no treatment. Read more: 6 companies that launched innovative mental health benefits this year Obviously, stress is not good for the brain, and improved mental health practices can reduce the risk. This is compounded by the various defence mechanisms, inherent in the human brain, which work to shield us from accepting uncomfortable truths or potential threats. Exercise helps increase ROS (reactive oxygen species), resulting in decreases in the incidence of oxidative stress-related diseases (Deslandes, 2009). Deslandes, A., Moraes, H., Ferreira, C., Veiga, H., Silveira, H., Mouta, R., … Laks, J. But raising awareness is just the … The Importance of Mental Health Awareness By: Jean Holthaus, LISW, LMSW Mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. Journaling is a powerful tool used as an intervention in many different areas of well being. By filling out your name and email address below. 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