COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have brought about a sense of fear and anxiety around the globe. This phenomenon has led to short-term as well as long-term psychosocial and mental health implications on children, adolescents, and also among adults, and the term ‘mental health’ has gained global acceptance. Mental health is such a familiar word now. Why is mental health so important and why are we using it a lot during this period? The purpose of this article is to analyze the importance of mental health.
Mental health is a state of mind characterized by emotional well-being, good behavioral adjustment, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relationships and cope with the ordinary demands and stresses of life.
It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. Sometimes people use the term “mental health” to refer to the absence of a mental illness, although it can also affect daily life, relationships, and physical health. It is a common misconception that persons who are mentally ill only have mental health issues, whereas others who are considered “normal” do not.
In our day-to-day life, we’re facing a lot of problems and it causes stress. There are two types of stress called eustress and distress. Eustress is beneficiary stress in which we’re motivated to do something which benefits us in result, for example, the stress we feel during exams, meeting the deadlines in office, etc. and the distress refers to bad and overwhelming stress that impairs functioning, for example, death of loved ones. We can say we have good mental health if we are able to manage our stress and emotions as well as others.
I’ve noticed so many crimes in families during the pandemic lockdown period. It was an unfamiliar situation to us. Many people took it as an opportunity to develop their artistry, tried to be close with their families, tried to make their houses look attractive, but in some families when they got to know each other, dissonance occurred leading to crimes. The fact that we understand as human beings are that each of us is unique, each one has its concepts, perspective, and goals. Comments like ‘you look thin or fat’ passed during a family function are considered normal among the elder but the younger generation considers it as body shaming. We can’t blame the elder generation regarding this or we can’t compare them with the younger generation because of this real thing. Both generations experience tremendous changes in the environment that both the generations go through so we can’t complain about each other. It is natural for dissonance to occur but we should accept and choose the right one.
Parents should be more alert these days because the world is becoming more competitive and children are trying to fit in. Therefore, they should act as a support system and encourage them and teach them to maintain their emotions as well. Parents should be emotionally mature to do so. If the parents are struggling, it is better and really helpful to seek a therapist’s help.
Don’t need to be ashamed of consulting a psychologist. It is normal to consult a physician when you feel physical discomfort just like you need to consult a mental health professional when you’re in need. A psychologist is not just someone who treats insanity, they aim to reduce distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being, minimize exclusion and inequalities and enable service users to engage in meaningful relationships.
By, Linu Clarie Sebastian
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