WHY IS MENTAL HEALTH IMPORTANT FOR OVERALL HEALTH DURING PANDEMIC?
DOROTHY R. ESPAÑOL
2ur emotional psychological and social well Eeing are all parts of our mental health ,t influences our thoughts emotions and Eehaviors 0ental health is vital at every stage of life from childhood and adolescence through maturity ,t also influences how we handle stress relate to others and make healthy decisions $lthough the terms are often used inter changeaEly poor mental health and mental illness are not the same $ person can e[peri ence poor mental health and not Ee diagnosed with a mental illness /ikewise a person diagnosed with a mental illness can e[perience periods of physical mental and social well Eeing Both physical and mental health are crucial aspects of overall health )or in stance depression raises the danger of many different physical health issues especially chronic diseases like diaEetes heart disease and stroke ,n a similar vein having chronic illnesses raises your likelihood of developing mental disease The &29,D pandemic coupled with the turEulence of our current times makes the suEMect of mental health not Must pertinent Eut essential The presence or aEsence of a mental disorder is only one aspect of one s mental health The intersection of psychological physical and emotional well Eeing e[ists here 0any people have e[perienced significant proElems with their mental health this year $long with the diseases negative effects on health &29,D has also caused self and social isolation separation from family and friends Tuarantines and lockdowns on movement which has resulted in more people than ever feeling hopeless alone Ee reaved an[ious and depressed $s a result the need for health support services has skyrocketed *overnments local communities and civic organi]ations need to Eoost the resources devoted to alleviating psychological distress Eoth now and after the pandemic has passed in order to address these issues and e[pand the capacity and accessiEility of help 2ne way to help has Eeen shown to Ee Ey volunteering ,n addition to Eringing people together and supporting those in need volunteering also provides participants a sense of purpose which can help them fight off depression and promote optimistic thinking Tech nology volunteerism and support of one another have all Eeen used Ey many people to comEat the pandemic Eridging disconnect and enhancing mental health :hen it comes to altering haEits Eeliefs and attitudes mental health therapy must Ee comprehensive and address the community as a whole 3atients with mental conditions should Ee the focus of specific care and preventative initiatives ,t is important to address proElems like stigma and the segregationist effects it has $dditionally it is crucial to prioriti]e the mental health of doctors and other front line healthcare workers 2ne of the pillars of resilience in a society that will face a Eewildering array of challenges as a result of this gloEal pandemic should Ee the mental health agenda which is still urgent and essential +ere are some key strategies that you can adopt to Ee proactive in caring for your mental well Eeing Even while mental health issues are serious they can occasionally Ee challenging to identify especially for parents or other caregivers )inding out if you or a loved one needs professional treatment can Ee made easier Ey Eecoming knowledgeaEle aEout the typical symptoms of mental illness in adults and kids The author is 3rincipal ,, at &ity of 6an )ernando :est ,ntegrated 6chool-oOo