ENGLISH MENTAL HEALTH

5

Importance of Mental Health

University

English 1010

Professor

August 24, 2021

Mental health refers to a state of well-being in which individuals identify their abilities and cope with the everyday stresses of life. It is also referred to as a state of a person's cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. Mental health affects how people think, feel, and act around other people and themselves. It also helps in determining how people handle everyday stress, make choices, and relate to others. Factors contributing to mental health problems include biological factors such as genes, brain chemistry, life experiences such as traumas, and family history of mental problems. Mental health problems are treatable, and one can recover completely. Mental health awareness is essential for communities, especially among the poverty-stricken and marginalized groups. Mental health is vital for everyone because it helps increase productivity, reduces risks of depression, helps in cognitive development, and better relations with other people.

Mental health is essential in increasing productivity at the workplace community level. The mental health of employees is crucial to their health and determines their level of productivity. "Poor mental health and stressors at the workplace can be a contributory factor to a range of physical illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions," (Rajgopal, 2010, 63). Poor mental health conditions can cause burnout on employees, thus affecting their ability to contribute positively to the organization or business. Mental health problems directly impact employees and organizations by absent employees, leading to low productivity, profits, and high cost of dealing with the situation (Rajgopal, 2010, 65). In addition, poor mental health leads to arguments with superiors, bureaucratic issues, conflict with colleagues, and work-family conflict. Workplaces can reduce mental stresses and conditions for their employees by providing better working conditions for them and ample working time. Therefore, mental health is essential in promoting a productive community and ensuring businesses have profits rather than losses.

Another benefit of valuing mental health is reducing depression and suicide cases or issues among individuals and society. Depression is one of the mental disorders that affect people with poor mental conditions. Unipolar depression is a significant category of depression with the following sub-categories: psychotic, melancholic, catatonic, and atypical (Meyer, Chigome, & Matlala, 2018, 49). Depression is a severe mental disorder that leads to suicide in most cases where the victim takes their own life. "Severe mental disorders, namely, depression, schizophrenia, delirium, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and bipolar disorder are associated with increased risk of suicide and suicide attempts in comparison to the general population," (Meyer, Chigome, & Matlala, 2018, 50). Suicide levels are high among people suffering from anxiety and depression, especially for men and people with a history of multiple hospitalization cases. Therefore, promoting mental health for all ages can reduce the instances of depression and suicide in society.

Mental health is essential in promoting cognitive development and clearer thinking. Mental health relates to cognitive development and the ability to think clearer. Physical fitness is related to improved mental health, thus helping one cope with life's stresses and other problems. Sharper memory, especially for students, is another benefit of promoting mental health. Students can relax and put their minds to work after a good physical exercise (Rajgopal, 2010). Physical fitness also helps mental health and cognitive development by enabling one to sleep better, thus putting the mind at ease and preparing it to face the next day. Therefore, cognitive development, clearer thinking, and sharper memory benefit from maintaining positive and good mental health.

Good mental health also leads to better relations with other people at work or home. One of the problems associated with poor health is arguing or having conflicts with different people. For example, employees arguing with their superiors or colleagues (Rajgopal, 2010). Good mental health helps one achieve better emotional intelligence and balance to relate well with others. Emotional intelligence also leads to self-acceptance, thus boosting self-esteem. Stigma from society can lead to misperception resulting in low self-esteem, alienation, withdrawal from others, and impaired social adaptation (Meyer, Chigome, & Matlala, 2018, 49). Improved mental health also leads to improved interpersonal and communication skills, which can help a person relate well with others. Relief from anxiety, depression, attaining mental clarity, and managing emotions is another importance of maintaining and achieving good mental health.

In conclusion, mental health refers to a state of a person's cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. Mental health affects how people think, feel, and act around other people and themselves. Factors that affect mental health including life experiences such as trauma and abuse, having a family with a mental history problem, and biological factors such as brain chemistry. Mental health is essential in promoting cognitive development, which can be attained through physical fitness and exercise. Cognitive development helps one have a sharper memory, clearer thinking, and better neurotransmission. Mental health is also essential in maintaining better relations with other people through increased self-esteem, better management of emotions, better clarity, and improved communication and interpersonal relations. Good mental health is also essential in reducing suicide and depression cases in society and promoting a productive culture.

Reference

Meyer, J., Chigome, A., & Matlala, M. (2018). Mental Health A public health priority. SA Pharmaceutical Journal. 85. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329625892_Mental_Health_A_public_health_priority

Rajgopal, T. (2010). Mental well-being at the workplace. Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 14(3), 63–65. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.75691