Your mental health is very important. You will not have a healthy body if you don’t also take care of your mind. People depend on you! It’s important for you to take care of yourself so that you can do the important things in life – whether it’s working, learning, taking care of your family, volunteering, enjoying the outdoors, or whatever else is important to you.
Good mental health helps you enjoy life and cope with problems. It offers a feeling of well-being and inner strength. Just as you take care of your body by eating healthy foods and exercising, you can do things to protect your mental health. In fact, eating well and exercising can help maintain good mental health. Don’t assume you have good mental health just because you don’t have mental health illness. You have to work to keep your mind healthy.
Nutrition and mental health
The food you eat can have a direct effect on your energy level, physical health and mood. A “healthy diet” is one that has enough of each essential nutrient, contains many foods from all of the basic food groups, provides the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight, and does not have too much added fat, sugar, salt or alcohol.
By choosing foods that can give you steady energy, you can help your body stay healthy. This may also help your mind feel good. The same diet doesn’t work for every person. In order to find the best foods that are right for you, talk to your dietitian for more information.
Exercise and mental health
Regular physical activity is important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long periods of time can produce long-term health benefits. This is why health experts say that everyone should be active every day to maintain their health.
If you are diagnosed with depression or anxiety, your doctor may tell you to exercise in addition to taking any medications or receiving counseling. This is because exercise has been shown to help with the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Your body makes certain chemicals, called endorphins, before and after you work out. They relieve stress and improve your mood. Exercise can also slow or stop weight gain, which is a common side effect of some medications used to treat mental health disorders.
Sleep and mental health
Your mind and body will feel better if you sleep well. Your body needs time every day to rest and heal. If you often have trouble sleeping – both falling asleep, or waking during the night and being unable to get back to sleep – talk to your local health professional.
Stress and mental health
Stress can happen for many reasons. Stress can be brought about by a traumatic accident, death, or emergency situation. Stress can also be a side effect of a serious illness or disease. There is also stress associated with daily life, the workplace, and family responsibilities. It’s hard to stay calm and relaxed in our hectic lives. Many individuals in our society have many roles: spouse, parent, caregiver, friend, and/or worker. With all we have going on in our lives, it seems almost impossible to find ways to de-stress. But it’s important to find those ways. Your health depends on it. Remember to always make time for you! It is important to care for yourself. Think of this as an order from your doctor, so you don’t feel guilty! No matter how busy you are, try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule to do something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or calling a friend.
For more information about any of the free services offered by the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, visit the website at www.mmfht.ca or call the Drayton office at 519-638-2110 or the Clifford office at 519-327-4777. Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter for healthy living tips and information on programs and events.
Feven Gebremicael is a social work intern with the Upper Grand Family Health Team.
