When it comes to your well-being, mental health is as important as physical wellness because this aspect of your life determines how well you fare emotionally, psychologically, and socially in various situations through your lifetime. No prizes for guessing that this is responsible for how you get along with others – family, friends, business associates, and even stark strangers on a day to-day basis, and so has a direct bearing on your welfare. At Phool Patti, we stress on the fact that no matter how much care you take of your skin and hair, what really matters is how good the ‘internal environment’ of your body is. What is inside will manifest on the outside. There is already a considerable body of research to prove that mental and physical health are, in fact, inter-related. If one breaks down, the other cannot remain unaffected. Therefore, it becomes important that we work towards eliminating mental disturbances and distress through the different phases of our life to keep ourselves in top shape and productivity for performing our roles.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS MENTAL HEALTH? WHY IS IT SUCH A BUZZWORD THESE DAYS?

Simply put, it’s a state of well-being. With sound mental health, an individual can confidently face and cope with the normal stresses of life that keeps throwing curveballs at each of us from time to time. With mental health, you can keep performing productively and make meaningful contributions to the society, the curveballs notwithstanding. It’s in the news frequently these days because more and more individuals are unable to reach their full potential because of psychological disorders that lead to poor mental health. Cutting across age, gender, geographies, and professions, mental age has assumed worrisome proportions. Considering that mental health plays a significant role in each aspect of life, it becomes important to not only safeguard but also improve your psychological well-being using appropriate measures,

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS LEADING TO POOR MENTAL HEALTH?
There are several causes and circumstances that may affect mental health adversely. Certain factors could increase the risk of psychological disorders. It is important that we watch out for them.

• Lifestyle – This is one of the prime factors contributing to poor mental health in modern times. Smoking, poor diet (infrequent and odd mealtimes, junk food, imbalanced nourishment all come under this category), alcohol consumption, substance abuse, risky sexual behaviour – you may justify all this citing work and personal stress but ultimately, you are only causing psychological harm to your own self.
• Family History – Your biological makeup could be a determinant of the state of your mental health. It has been seen that a number of mental health disorders run in some families. The medical histories of such families indicate that they are passed down generations among the members. These include conditions as – depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), autism, schizophrenia.
• Abuse during Childhood – This can lead to severe mental and emotional distress resulting in poor mental health. Sexual violence, emotional abuse and/or neglect and physical assault during childhood tends to lead to permanent scarring and is a cause of poor mental health well into adulthood.
• Environmental Causes – Did you know that the weather can directly affect our moods? We describe days as “dull gray and cold” or “bright and sunny”. Immediately, your mind’s eye ‘sees’ 2 different pictures. A person’s environment is a strong contributor to his/her mental well- being. Certain weather conditions may lead to a spurt in suicide cases. PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) has been observed in individuals who have experienced natural disasters first- hand. Air pollution may also initiate negative effects on an individual suffering from depression.

ANY SIGNS THAT WE CAN LOOK OUT FOR?

This would be the 1st step of action by the family and/or friends. Please bear in mind that most patients require the guidance of a professional to improve and maintain their well-being. There are still lots of stigmas around mental health, unfortunately. This needs to be done away with at the earliest. It is simply another health condition where therapy is required. Says Ruby Walia, Founder of Phool Patti,” If I have a headache, I am immediately on the alert, my body is telling me to look for the best solution, so my day is not ruined because of it. Why should I not apply this same sense of self-care for a mental health issue?” Point.
The following changes may occur in an individual going through poor mental health –
1. A noticeable reduction of energy level.
2. Switch in eating habits – over-eating or under eating.
3. Becoming more reclusive or shying away or avoiding others completely.
4. A feeling of persistent despair.
5. Severe mood swings.
6. Indulging in alcohol, tobacco, or other substances. Starting afresh or consuming more than usual.
7. Picking frequent fights with family and friends.
8. Experiencing unexplained confusion, anger, guilt or worry.
9. Hearing voices with no identifiable source.
10. Being unable to perform daily tasks with ease.
11. Thinking of self-harm or causing harm to others.

FEW EASY STEPS TO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

While these are some doable steps that anyone can follow, we reiterate that you should seek professional therapy and guidance. A specialist will give you expert advice with specific coping mechanisms to help you through your difficult times and to ensure you become your healthier, fitter self once again.

• Taking up regular exercise. It will improve your muscle mass and function, strengthen your immune system, improve cardiovascular and respiratory health, reduce inflammation, and contribute to better gut microbiome diversity. With better physical health, your mental health automatically improves as your brain functions better.
• Trying meditation, Yoga or Tai-Chi to promote serenity connections in the body and mind.
• Learning coping skills for life challenges.
• Prioritizing rest and sleep on a regular basis.
• Maintaining a positive outlook towards life.

To conclude, a growing body of research makes it clear that physical and mental health are deeply inter- connected. Any medico will tell you the mood swings during a woman’s periods are the simplest proof of how the two are linked. It has also been conclusively proved that mental stress can cause chronically elevated levels of cortisol (a hormone) that can in turn mess up several bodily functions. Therefore, it is of prime importance that each one of us works towards ensuring our mental health is always addressed properly throughout our life.