“Mental health is just as important as physical health. Seeking help for mental health concerns is not a weakness, but a courageous step towards recovery and well-being.” – Michelle Obama
You are important, and you matter to a lot of people!
Mental health is a well-known term, and we all are aware of what it is, however, let’s take a look at the definition of mental health stated by the World Health Organization (WHO):
Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
In this definition, do you notice any sort of negativity? Or does it give any negative impression? Yet we have deemed mental health to be some sort of disorder or illness. You will be surprised to hear that 1 in every 8 people experiences mental health issues, and this statistic tells us that around 970 million people are living with mental health issues globally. This is how common mental health issues are, and the biggest reason for such a high rate is the stigma associated with it.
More than 700,000 people die because of depression every year! Is it difficult to overcome depression? No, it is not. The reason for such a high rate of deaths is that people are afraid to seek professional help. They have the misconception that if they open up to other people, then they will also have to face negative societal perceptions.
However, our society has finally started to internalize mental health issues, and mental health is given priority in many countries and workplaces. The world has finally taken progressive steps toward ending mental health stigmas.
Yet, many adults and children continue to suffer from mental health conditions, and seeking treatment can greatly improve their personal and professional lives, as well as their overall well-being and happiness.
Importance of Seeking Professional Help for Mental Health Challenges
It is important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes a lot of courage to acknowledge and address mental health concerns, and by doing so, you can take control of your well-being and improve the quality of your life. If you want to know more about the benefits of professional help and how it can improve the quality of your life, then you must read the following:
Helps You Deal with Life’s Most Difficult Challenges
Every person is facing various challenges in their daily life, and seeking professional help can help you manage these problems. Mental health professionals can provide you with support, guidance, and direction when you need it most. They help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and also give you suggestions on how to cope with several issues.
Helps You Talk Openly
The main reason for those 700,000 deaths was staying silent. When you are mentally unstable, you need to talk to other people, but most remain silent. It is crucial to have someone to talk to who understands your situation and helps you come out of it.
When you are going through the dark phase, you usually don’t feel comfortable talking about it with your friends or family, or sometimes they may not know how to help you. That is why you need a professional mental health counselor who can provide you with the support and understanding that you need.
Helps You Focus on Physical Health
When you are facing mental health issues, then it is quite common that your physical health also starts deteriorating due to symptoms such as lack of appetite etc. Moreover, anxiety and depression are also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, and that is why cardiac arrests or heart attacks are quite common among depressed individuals. Therefore, seeking professional help can save you from deteriorating your physical health further, and also help you focus on having a proper diet.
They Can Talk You Down from The Edge
People facing mental health issues normally also feel suicidal, and in that phase thinking normally is not easy. Even though you might be feeling that you are worthless and no one cares about you, but you underestimate the impact and value you bring to the world and the people around you. Your life does matter, and mental health professionals can talk you down from the edge and help you see that there is hope at the end of the tunnel.
They Help You Improve Relationships
Mental health problems often damage relationships, whether it be between husband and wife, father and son, brother and sister, and so on. A mental health professional can help you improve your communication skills and build stronger relationships with your loved ones. Relationships are the most valuable things in a person’s life, and these dark phases strain relationships to their fullest, so make sure that you tightly hold onto your loved ones.
They Help You in Controlling Your Emotions
Emotions are the most difficult thing to control. At some point, it feels impossible to control emotions, and it even feels that the emotions are controlling you. Well, that is when professional therapies should come into place. These professionals help you get your control back so that you can easily make your way out.
Helps You Develop Coping Skills
A mental health professional not only listens to you and understands you, but they also teach you several coping skills that could help you manage your symptoms. These skills can include relaxation techniques or stress management strategies. They also help you understand your situation, and give solutions to those problems accordingly.
Final Tips
Mental health is just as important as physical health. We need to change this mentality of perceiving mental health issues as some sort of abnormality. Mental health disorders can be tackled and healing is always possible.