Mental health is a hot topic in our society. The CDC defines mental health as your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. However, it’s important to not confuse mental health with mental illness.
What is the Difference?
Mental Health
Problems that are results from life stressors. These are less severe and of shorter duration than mental illnesses. If they continue to progress over a longer period, it could turn into a mental illness.
Mental Illness
The conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior. These can include anxiety, depression, personality disorders, PTSD, etc.
The Correlation Between Mental Health and Well-Being
Good well-being is what leads to good mental health. EveryMind describes well-being as the enjoyment of one’s life, having the ability to cope with and ‘bounce back’ from stress and sadness, being able to set and fulfill goals, and having the capability to build and maintain relationships with others.
Questions you can use to evaluate how your well-being is:
Do you constantly worry a lot about your work, relationships, and living situations?
Is it hard for you to concentrate on one task when you are at work?
Do you find it hard to make meaningful friendships?
When was the last time you did something you enjoyed?
Do you feel like you don’t have enough time in the day to get things done?
It is important to take care of your well-being so that your mental health can also thrive. Here are a few steps you can start taking today to improve your well-being:
Create space in your day to rest. When I say rest, I don’t just mean to take a nap (unless that’s what brings you quality rest). Rest refers to doing things that fill you up and set you at ease. This could include going to the lake, sitting on your porch, going for a walk, playing checkers, etc.
Get involved in your community. Go to your city’s website and find opportunities to serve or get involved in local activities. This will bring you a sense of belonging and you will find more enjoyment and purpose being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Be active and eat well. The better you feel physically, the higher your mental health. Have you heard the phrase, “You are what you eat”? What you put into your body is going to affect how you feel that day and potentially several days afterwards. Eat smart and stay active! Read more about the value of staying active in our blog “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy YOU”.
Prioritize your sleep. When life gets busy, the amount of sleep we get at night is the first thing we compromise on. However, this can make a huge difference in your mental health. A helpful tip is to set an alarm on your phone that goes off at the same time every night to remind you to go to sleep. Refer to our blog over the 4 must know sleep practices for 2022.
Find more tips on what you can do to improve your well-being here.
Stop the Stigma
Mental health continues to carry a stigma in our society. Because of the stigma, many do not speak up about their mental health and delay getting the proper care that they need. Don’t be afraid to speak up and talk to your healthcare provider about what you are going through and create a plan to help manage it.
Tria Health and Mental Health
Many patients decide to take medications to effectively manage their mental health. There are a variety of mental health medications currently on the market, ranging from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to atypical antidepressants. Because there is not a test to measure to brain chemicals, it can be a trial-and-error process to identify the best treatment for a patient.
If Tria Health is offered through your benefits plan, you have the option of receiving a one-on-one, private consultation with one of Tria Health’s pharmacists over the phone. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. If you are interested in exploring medication treatments for mental health, Tria’s pharmacist will be able to provide you with recommendations.
Questions?
Call the Tria Health Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742
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