Author: Suma Bhattacharya

Mental health is an integral and essential component of health. A healthy individual is not merely denoted if physically healthy but mentally healthy too. In a simple way mental health refers to the maintenance of satisfactory personality adjustment and a relative absence of mental disorder. However, a clear and widely accepted definition of mental health as a discipline is still missing. The Campbell’s Dictionary of Psychiatry gives it two meanings: first, as a synonym of mental hygiene and second, as a state of psychological well being. The Oxford English Dictionary defines mental hygiene as a set of measures to preserve mental health, and later refers to mental health as a state.

Mental health, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Characteristics of a mentally healthy person:

A mentally healthy individual can be distinguished from others easily through his mode of living, behaviour and personality characteristics. In general features and characteristics can be summarised in the following ways:-

• A mentally healthy person is adaptable to the changing conditions of the office environment and he has a resilient mind.
• A mentally healthy person is emotionally mature and stable as he asked to express his emotions in a desirable way and exercise proper control over them
• He is socially adaptable and awake and has a strong personality.
• His intellectual powers are adequately developed and able to think independently and to take proper decisions at a proper time.
• A mentally healthy person is physically healthy and free from mental illness.
• He always lives in a world of reality rather than that of imagination and fantasy.
• A mentally healthy person has enthusiasm in life. She has enough courage and power of tolerance for facing failures in his life and never repents and what is over his failures and mistakes.
• He has his own philosophy of life and governs his own conduct and activities.
• A mentally healthy person is free from prejudice.
• He leads  balance life of work, rest and recreation
• A mentally healthy person is free from undesirable mental disturbances, disorders, conflicts, anxieties, frustration, ailments and disease.
• They have strong motivational power.

We often think of our mind and body as separate but in reality both are interconnected. Physical health problems significantly increase risk of developing mental health problems. At the present scenario, we all have been spending a very critical and challenging time. Each and everyone is facing various kinds of problems related to our daily life journey. Life is not a destination, it’s a journey. It’s totally unpredictable about the end product of the journey. So definitely we have to survive both mentally and physically fit and fine but how? It’s not an easy task to find out the ways and means to make ourselves fit and fine. As mental health is a totally inward set of one’s life it’s not outward observation. But we can’t deny the reality of this “where there is a will there’s a way”. So let’s try to follow a few tips which may help us keep mentally healthy basically during this pandemic situation.

• During the covid-19 pandemic, we may experience stress, anxiety, fear and loneliness. We have to remember that a few small steps can bring big improvements in our mental health such as daily exercise, meditation, yoga and maintaining social connections; strength training exercise can be done without gym equipment. Suppose we start with simple activities like stretching at home or walking around our neighbourhood.
• Read our own mind. At least 10 minute everyday to focus on our own mental health. Self study is another important mental exercise to keep one’s mentally healthy.
• Get enough sleep. Getting too much or too little sleep are the signs of mental illness and this issue can be the cause of negative impact on our psychological well being. So try to make a good habit of sleeping.
• We should learn to exercise control over our emotions and to express ourselves in a socially desirable way.
• Everywhere , we should not emphasise perfection.
• We should not be made to engage ourselves in the blind race of unhealthy competitions.
• A natural tendency as a human being, to use defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from the anxieties and worries created through our failures and frustration. But such type of false protection is temporary. It may lead to serious mental conflicts and disorders. On the contrary try to develop proper patience and power of tolerance to face the failures and frustrations in life.
• Loss of moral and spiritual values in dishonesty, corruption, nepotism, favouritism, unhealthy rivalry and fighting which breeds mental conflicts, tensions and disorders.  Therefore, self study is the adequate provision to overcome all these.
• Boost our immunity with a proper diet, and avoid too much junk food. Avoid tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

Though the maintenance of proper mental health is not an easy task basically during this tough situation but essential. As a responsible citizen, we have the prior responsibility of keeping others healthy. The future generation is in our hands, we are supposed to play a significant role in helping them in the maintenance of proper mental health. But we cannot be expected to improve the mental health of others unless our own mental health is sound. The cooperation of the state authorities, parents and other responsible members of the society is an urgent necessity to achieve success at this point.