Mental health is integral to living a healthy, balanced life. Our mental health conditions encompass our psychological, emotional and social well-being. This means it impacts how we feel, think and behave each day. Our mental health also contributes to our decision-making process, coping with stress, and relating to others in our lives.

Why is mental health important?

Mental and emotional health are important because they’re a vital part of your life and impact your thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. Being healthy emotionally can promote productivity and effectiveness in work, school, or caregiving activities. It plays an important part in the health of your relationships and allows you to adapt to changes in your life and cope with adversity.

How can you improve your mental health condition day-to-day?

You can take steps to improve your mental health condition every day. Small things like exercising, eating balanced and healthy meals, opening up to other people in your life, taking a break when you need to, remembering something you are grateful for, and getting a good night’s sleep can boost your emotional health.

When is a good time to reach out for help?

Issues related to mental health can impact different people in different ways. If you start to see changes in your overall happiness and relationships, there are always ways to get the support you want. Here are some ways you can get help:

  • Connect with other individuals, friends and family — Reaching out and opening up to other people in your life can help provide emotional support.
  • Learn more about mental health — There are many resources you can turn to for learning more about emotional health.
  • Take a mental health assessment — An assessment can help determine if stress, anxiety, or depression may impact your life. 
  • Talk to a professional — If you start to feel like your emotional health is starting to impact you, it may be time to reach out for extra support. You can see a psychologist or psychiatrist and find the personalized support you want.

Discover ways to take a healthy approach to your mental wellness and understand issues like depression and how it can affect men and women differently. 

Why should we spread mental health awareness?

By making a concerted effort to spread mental health awareness, we can work to de-stigmatize how we think about, approach, and identify mental health issues in our society. 

Having those tough conversations and admitting there’s a problem means we can develop a solution. We can start removing the shame and fear that are often associated with mental health topics. Doing so can increase the likelihood of someone reaching out when they need help. 

Asking for help is a sign of strength. Working together allows us to build a foundation that respects and honours the importance of good mental health.

Another benefit of focusing on mental health awareness is that it can make signs and symptoms of certain conditions more well-known. In addition, early intervention is predictive of how successful mental health treatment will be for many conditions. The earlier someone is diagnosed and begins treatment, the more likely it is that they’ll be able to manage their condition and improve their mental health.

Wondering how to improve your mental health? If you or someone you care about needs mental health help, know it’s available. Remember that the earlier you treat a mental health condition, the better that treatment will be successful. You can find help through individual or family therapy, support groups, online services, community clinics, or asking a friend or family member to assist you.