Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Mental Health helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is integral to living a healthy, balanced life. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five American experience mental health issues which translates to more than 40 million adults a year.
When it comes to mental health there is no magic solution or quick fix. Personal intention and consistent practice of daily interventions are vital to realizing the benefits of positive mental health. Physical health and mental health are inextricably linked, and we cannot treat them as separate when we talk about wellness.
The Importance of Mental Health
Emotional and mental health is important because it’s a vital part of your life and impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Being healthy emotionally can promote productivity and effectiveness in activities like work, school or caregiving. Considering the importance of good mental health to our overall well-being it is important to prioritize our emotional health and well-being.
When we are struggling with mental health sometimes it isn’t always apparent to the person, or those close to them. However, there are certain warning signs to watch out for that may signify that you or someone you know is experiencing negative changes for their well-being.
Signs of mental health problems can include:
- A change in eating habits
- Being more reclusive or pulling away
- A noticeable reduction in energy levels
- Severe mood swings
- Feeling persistent despair
- Being unable to perform daily tasks with ease
Because mental health is so important for general wellness it’s important that we make it a priority. To keep a positive healthy mindset and maintain good mental health a few changes to lifestyle may need to be applied. Genuine care for the self begins with addressing the underlying mental health issues and the narratives we’ve been telling ourselves about who we are, what we deserve and what we’re capable of.
A few ways to care for your mental health include:
- Talk about your feelings and emotions.
- Connect with others
- Eat well
- Make time for self-care
- Stay physically active
- Sleep well
- Practice gratitude
Caring for your mental health doesn’t have to be difficult. There are steps you can take to improve your mental health every day. Small actions each day will have a big impact in boosting your emotional health.
It’s important to remember that building healthier routines doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it can take years of therapy, self-care and healthy habits to learn how to take care of yourself in a way that works for you.
Leading a healthy and happy life requires a deep understanding of yourself that can take time and patience to figure out where you are and what needs to change for the positive.
Better Mental Health
Better mental health benefits include:
- Improved moods
- Clearer thinking
- Reduced risk of depression
- A greater sense of calm and inner peace
- Better sleep
- Increased energy
- Stronger resilience
- Increased self-awareness
- Improved relationships
At Unite Heath Share Ministries we encourage the importance of taking care of your body, mind and spirit for overall wellness. We believe that each component plays an important part in healthy living. You cannot live in true health without balancing those three elements.
Traditional medicine often puts its focus on treating an illness, including mental illness, solely from a physical perspective. Because of the interconnectedness of the body as a whole, the most successful healing approaches are those that address the physical, psychological and spiritual health. Strengthening all aspects of the body leads to positive change, healing and growth.
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25
Mental Health Monday
Every Monday UHSM is excited to share Mental Health Mondays with Brittney Moses from now until the end of 2022. Brittney is a mental health author, mom, wife and creator who advocates the integration of faith, culture and wellness. She is passionate about seeing this generation live on purpose and committed to empowering others.
Each week Brittney will share with us a tip, motivational advice or spiritual tidbit to help us cultivate and maintain a healthy emotional balance. We will be sharing across social media to break the stigma around mental health and provide our members and wellness community with resources and tips for overall health.
In this Mental Health Monday series, you will learn:
- Simple tips for self-care
- Prayer and mindfulness
- Express gratitude
- Practice spirituality
- Practice acts of kindness
UHSM Perks for Better Mental Health
In addition to this series UHSM offers our members perks to improve their physical, spiritual and mental health. When you sign up with one of our health share plans you get perks such as a free membership with our amazing partners to integrate a wholistic wellness approach.
Membership Perks:
- Noom – Their mission is to bring an end to dieting and, instead, help its users create life-long results.
- Fitbod – An app for specialized workouts and planning.
- Pray.com – #1 app for prayer. New content added daily including Prayers, bible dramas, audio stories and more.
Make sure you are following us on social media. Join UHSM as we partner up each week with Brittney as she shares with us free tips, tricks and meaningful additions to your day. It’s another way that #WeShare perks, community and love with our members.
