WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
In a world where anything can trend on social media, it is important to make issues that educate, promote, and advocate for mental health trend on all social media platforms.
It is fair to say that the Covid-19 pandemic, wars and the rising cost of living has compromised our mental health. Therefore, it is important for us to recognise the importance of days such as mental health day. The World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy on issues that affect an individual’s mental health. It is held annually on the 10th of October. This year the World Mental Health Day is held with the theme Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Global Priority. This theme envisions a world in which mental health is valued, promoted, and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need.
The reality is that we are all at risk of developing a mental health disorder regardless of age, gender, income, or socio-economic status. Social and financial circumstances, biological factors, lifestyle choices can shape a person’s mental health and/or compromise it. Therefore, it is important to recognise the personal factors that affect our mental health and do something about it. When it comes to issues such as mental health it is difficult to freely express our mental health challenges due to stigma, lack of information and at times lack of accessibility to mental health institutions. However, any change starts from within, and with the man in the mirror. This means that we must educate ourselves about issues surrounding mental health, what it means and why mental health is an important factor of wellbeing. With that personal knowledge, we can advocate for change, identify when our mental health is compromised and when a loved one’s mental health is deteriorating.
Keeping a check on your mental health is not difficult, occasionally, if not every day, show yourself some love and ask yourself the following questions:
1. How am I feeling today, really? Physically and mentally.
2. What’s taking up most of my headspace right now?
3. What was my last full meal, and have I been drinking enough water?
4. Have I been sleeping to get rested? If not, why? 5. What have I been doing for exercise? 6. What did I do today that made me feel good?
7. What’s something I can do today for myself?
8. What’s something I’m looking forward to in the next few days?
9. What’s something that happened to me today that was out of my control but stressed me out or brought negative emotions in me? 10. What am I grateful for right now? The questions above are for you to mentally keep yourself on tract and appreciate yourself for the effort you put in simply living life, interacting with the world and meeting the world’s requirements to have basic needs. However, we recognise that other mental health challenges are difficult and at times life threating. Recognising that you need professional help is a big step to recovery and there is no shame in that. As a matter of fact, it is a bold move on your part so
THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING ANOTHER DAY.
Services such as counselling and psychiatric assessment are available for you and your loved ones to get a better handle on your mental health. Therefore, let’s proudly commemorate the World Mental Health Day knowing that is the key to our wellbeing.
BOSASNET offers counselling services to people experiencing problems with substance use, depression, anxiety, stress, anger management and adjustment issues. If you think that you might have a problem mentioned above, or if you have a friend or family member who does, we encourage you to seek help. For some, it can mean the difference between life and death. You can find BOSASNET on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok or call us on 3959119 or 72659891 for more information.