Shining a Light on Mental Health Disorders!

“Your mental health is as important as your physical health! Balance Both!”

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.”~ Glenn Close

Mental Health Facts According to @WHO

• Mental, neurological and substance use disorders make up 10% of the global burden of disease and 30% of non-fatal disease burden.
• Around 1 in 5 of the world’s children and adolescents have a mental disorder.
• Depression is one of the leading causes of disability, affecting 264 million people.
• About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14.
• Almost 800, 000 people die by suicide every year; 1 person dies from suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 15-29 years.
• Around 1 in 9 people in settings affected by conflict have a moderate or severe mental disorder.
• People with severe mental disorders die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population.
• Rates of mental health workers vary from below 2 per 100 000 population in low-income countries to over 70 per 100 000 in high-income countries.
• Less than half of the 139 countries that have mental health policies and plans report having these aligned with human rights conventions.
• The global economy loses about US$ 1 trillion per year in productivity due to depression and anxiety.

Tips for Good Mental Health

• Value Yourself: Treat yourself with kindness and respect and avoid self-criticism
• Take care of your body and this include:
  • Eat healthy
  • Avoid substance abuse
  • Drink lots of water
  • Exercise on a regular basis
  • Get enough sleep daily
• Surround yourself with positivity  i.e. with good people and avoid isolation and loneliness
• Give back to the community by volunteering: it allows to meet new people and get connected
• Learn to deal with stress i.e. practice good coping skills such as taking walks or hanging with friends
• Quiet your mind: Meditation is one of the good ways to achieve this,
• Set realistic and attainable goals be it personal or professional. It helps to have set goals
• Break up the monotony: Mix it up sometimes, it can get boring doing the same thing over and over
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs: excessive usage can result in dependency
• Get help when needed; There is no shame in asking for help! Talk to some you trust about concerns you may have. Not talking about it is not an option!
• *Adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare ~University of Michigan-Health service~

Importance of Good Mental Health

• Positive mental health allows people to:
• Realize their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities
• *Adapted from mentalhealth.gov