16/08/2018
Life is difficult. Every day we are all presented with a series of challenges and choices to make. Our ability to cope with these challenges is a reflection of our 'Mental Health'. When faced with everyday decisions such as whether or not to get up in the morning, most people can cope quite well, and will make good choices most of the time. For some people however, even the most basic of everyday tasks can seem overwhelming, these people are deemed to be in negative mental health or mental ill health.
Negative mental health is very common. In a recent study of 2,500 Irish teenagers, only 30% identified their mental health as good or very good.
Depending on who you talk to, the cause of negative mental health is either biological, psycho-social, or a combination of the two. The biological model proposes that negative mental health is caused by an imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain and central nervous system. For people who subscribe to this idea, medication is the answer. In Ireland in 2018 almost 500,000 people are taking prescribed medication for depression or anxiety.
The psycho-social model proposes that peoples ability to cope with life is affected by past and present life experiences. For these people, counselling is the answer.
So who is right? The truth is that they are both right and they are both wrong. For some people, such as those with schizophrenia (and some people with chronic depression), failure to take their medication can make life incredibly difficult. For others however counselling or therapy can provide a confidential space to explore issues and get a fresh independent perspective, which can lead to finding more effective coping strategies.
Can I improve my own mental health? Yes. The first thing you should do is pay attention to what I call the cornerstones of positive mental health. they are:
1) Diet: The more chemicals you put into your body the less you brain will be able to function
2) Lifestyle: Achieve balance in all things in life (particularly work). get 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night and be open and honest in relationships
3) Exercise: Get 40 minutes of intense cardio exercise twice a week. it doesn't matter what it is, so long as you sweat (consult your doctor in advance if necessary)
4) Purpose in life: Have a reason to get up in the morning. Have a plan for life. create achievable goals, have hobbies/ interests etc
If you pay attention to all four of these issues it may be enough to get your life back on track. if not, you benefit from counselling.
