True or false? Mental health, like physical health, requires mindful and consistent effort.

While most people would agree with the statement above, far fewer explicitly recognize the ways in which our daily routines, actions, thoughts, and emotions play into the bigger picture of our personal well-being.

Body + Mind

As children, we are taught the importance of nutrition, exercise, good hygiene and healthy sleeping habits. Our parents take us to the pediatrician for annual physicals, the dentist for regular teeth cleanings, and the optometrist for vision checks.

We are inadvertently trained to associate good health with our physicality. But what about our mental well-being?

The ironic truth is that we tend to talk about mental health when it becomes just the opposite.

In reality, one cannot have health without mental health. You can eat organic foods and exercise daily, but if you are overlooking your emotional, psychological and social well-being, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Preventative Maintenance

As a psychiatrist, I make ample use of therapeutic metaphors. When it comes to explaining the importance of seeking mental health support sooner rather than later, I sometimes will mention the leaky canoe. Let the leaks go unattended for too long and we all can imagine the consequence.

Taking the metaphor one step further, consider the role of preventative maintenance in minimizing the development of leaks in the first place. We can apply seals and protectants in the off-peak months to reduce the likelihood of needing major repairs in the summer season.

In this sense, mental health is not different from physical health. Both require mindful and consistent effort.

A Simple Exercise

From a practical standpoint, mental health is largely a product of one’s lifestyle and environment. Simple changes can create meaningful gains and improvements. Recognizing what you value often leads the way.

Take a minute and think about the following:

1. My favorite way to start the day is:

2. I feel good about myself when:

3. I am happiest and most relaxed when I am with:

4. The best way for me to clear my mind is:

5. The song / album that always cheers me up is:

6. When I am feeling low, the person I lean on for support is:

7. More often than not, social media makes me feel:

8. My biggest insecurity is:

9. My guilty pleasure TV show is:

10. The most stressful part of my day is:

11. My favorite spot for alone time is:

12. When I start to feel stressed out or anxious, I need to:

13. My favorite treat to indulge in is:

14. I think mental health is:

15. My favorite way to unwind at the end of the day is:

Reflecting on such questions highlights the personal nature of self-care and the myriad opportunities each one of us has to improve our mental well-being on a daily basis.

Concluding Thoughts

If we are to embrace the importance of the psychological aspect of good health, we have to talk about mental health.

Relief begins and healing starts when we feel heard. It is so important to keep the conversation going – with our friends, with our colleagues, and certainly, with our children – on good days and bad ones.

Tim Yovankin, MD
Medical Director, Greywood Health Center
www.greywoodhealthcenter.com