1. Recognizing and accepting emotions. Mental
health does not mean feeling happy or joyous at all
times. Being anxious, sad, angry, or a combination of
negative emotions all at once is part of being human
and are normal. Emotional well-being means not
bottling up emotions but expressing them in a way
that respects ourselves and others. Accepting the
emotions as valid while finding ways to deal with
them — such as using calming music to reduce anger
— are benchmarks of a healthy response. If you have
strategies you like to use, keep it up! The more we
use strategies to deal with emotion, the more second
nature they become.
2. Finding spiritual support. Living with purpose
and connecting with something bigger than
ourselves supports our view of ourselves, our values,
and helps us make sense of how we fit into the world.
Some people may find this in religion, others may
find it in nature or something else. It is up to us to
define the spiritual aspect of our lives.
3. Building and maintaining a healthy
self-esteem. Self-esteem is about seeing our good
and not so good qualities, accepting them, and doing
our best with what we have. It is the recognition of
our uniqueness and innate worth as humans and
using that foundation to live life without comparing
ourselves to others. It is practising self-compassion
and self-awareness simultaneously for an integrated
and supportive view of ourselves that allows us to try
new things and deal with challenges confidently.
4. Building social networks. Good relationships
can take effort, time, and courage to build. They
require authenticity, openness, and trust to be
the kind of relationships that support mental
health. These relationships can come in the form
of spouses or partners, neighbours, family, faith
community members, club members, or support
groups. Enhance the positive relationships in your
life by being open and vulnerable with people that
you trust, and make them a priority. Finding time
may be difficult, but even a few hours occasionally
can be enough to sustain a positive and supportive
relationship. Don’t be afraid to lean on these people
if you are struggling, and let them know you are
there for them during difficult times, too.
5. Building resiliency. We can think of resiliency
as our armour during challenging times, such as a
bereavement or illness. Resiliency is coping with
problems or stress, taking action when you can make
changes to a situation, and letting go of the things
you cannot change. Resilience includes things like
problem solving skills, assertiveness, balancing
obligation and expectations, and developing
support networks.
6. Getting involved. Being involved in things that
align with our values gives us a feeling of purpose,
satisfaction, and contribution. It can also change our
perspective of events that have occurred in our own
lives and open us up to new people and experiences.
It can also help us build confidence and new skills
that contribute to self-esteem and resilience.
7. Supporting the mind with a healthy body.
The connection between mental and physical
health is indisputable; an active body fuelled by
good food contributes to chemical regulation in our
brains. These chemicals modulate our emotions
and perceptions, and chemicals like serotonin and
dopamine (the ‘feel good’ chemicals) are more
plentiful in people who are active at least three
times a week. Instead of reaching for the ice cream,
cookies, or wine when stressed, try a walk, golf, or
a Zumba class to get the mood-enhancing effect
without the extra calories. ●
Just as we care for our bodies, we must
care for our minds. Using these ‘building
blocks,’ it is possible to improve mental
health and resilience and reap the
benefits of a healthy mind as a resource
for a balanced life that is satisfying, rich,
and full of new experiences. Learn more
about mental wellness and resilience in
the eldercare portal at:
ec.myworklifeportal.com/index.html.
news&views AUTUMN 2019 | 55