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One in four of us will be affected by a mental health problem. How come, while most of us feel confident enough to talk about our physical pain to family and friends, we are not very comfortable talking about our health mental?
World Mental Health Day, Wednesday, is an opportunity to talk about mental health and educate the public about what can be done to deal with it.
It is important to emphasize the difference between mental health and a mental health problem. Mental health is our ability to enjoy life and meet its challenges. Our mental health affects how we feel about ourselves and others and how we respond to events that happen to us.
Like physical health, our mental health can change over time. Many things can be done to promote good mental health. The New Economic Foundation identifies five tips for improving well-being.
Connect – staying in touch with family and friends can help us feel valued and make us happier and safer.
Take note – interact with the world around you. Taking the time to become aware of what is happening around you and reflecting on your experiences can help you understand what matters to you. Another way to do this is to practice mindfulness, a therapeutic technique in which you focus your consciousness on the present moment.
Keep learning – learning improves self-esteem and self-confidence. It can also be a great way to meet new people. Try something new, adopt an old hobby or start a challenge that you will enjoy doing.
Giving – Giving can be very rewarding and can strengthen the feeling of self-confidence. This may involve doing something good for a friend or stranger or donating your time to a charity.
Being active – being active is not only good for our physical health, it has also been proven to have a positive effect on our mental health and well-being. Physical activity does not just mean going to the gym, it can also go walking or running, gardening or dancing; any movement that increases your heart rate and, preferably, something that you enjoy.
These activities help us maintain good mental health and can also improve mental health issues, such as depression.
It is estimated that 23% of people living with a diagnosable mental health problem are not getting the help they need. In some cases it is because they do not know that they are living with a mental health problem.
The first thing people living with an undiagnosed mental health problem might notice is a change in their physical health. It can involve recurring headaches, stomach upset or fast heartbeat. Living with a mental health problem can make relaxation and extinction difficult. Lack of sleep is another common side effect. This can have a negative impact on how a person feels and their ability to handle daily stress.
Physical activity can help relieve stress because it relaxes muscles and relieves tension in the body. It also increases the level of endorphins and serotonin, the natural chemicals of well-being in the body, which contribute to well-being and happiness. Physical activity can also be a great way to meet people and have fun.
Edinburgh Leisure, a charitable organization dedicated to creating opportunities to enable local people to lead healthy and active lives, understands the positive impact that physical activity can have and the life of the community. impact it may have on people with mental disorders such as depression, stress or anxiety.
With funding from the Edinburgh Health and Social Services Partnership, Edinburgh Leisure offers a Healthy Active Minds physical activity program that uses physical activity to improve mental health. Last year, the program helped 625 people across Edinburgh improve their mental health through physical activity.
Graeme, 57, said, "Healthy, active minds have changed and contributed to life – being active has reduced my anxiety level and improved my morale. Meeting new people does not scare me anymore and I'm really looking for social interaction. What a reversal. "
Edinburgh Leisure accepts referrals from any mental health professional working with a person with a mild to moderate mental health disorder. Once referred, participants will meet with a Healthy Active Minds instructor for an initial consultation where goals, motivation and support needs will be discussed to enable them to become physically active. Participants will also receive subsidized access to Edinburgh Leisure gym, swimming and fitness classes.
Being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health. So, let's talk about our mental health and take care of it by incorporating a regular activity into our daily lives and walk, run, dance or swim to improve our health and well-being.
For more information on Healthy Active Minds, please contact the Edinburgh Leisure Active Communities team at 0131 458 2260 or by email at [email protected].
Audrey McKinven is Head of Health Development (Mental Health) at Edinburgh Leisure.
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