Mental health is becoming a big challenge amid changing lifestyle. In today's time, mental illness is increasing more than physical illness. The cases of problems related to this like stress, anxiety and depression are increasing. A big reason for this is that people still do not take mental health seriously and hesitate to talk about it. This is slowly hollowing the person from inside. These include the elderly and most of the youth, who even take the step of committing suicide. To increase awareness in this regard and to explain the importance of mental health, World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October.
Let us tell you when the celebration of this day started and its importance -
History of world mental health day
the concept of observing a day to raise awareness of mental health issues was first taken out in 1992, at the world federation for mental health congress in cape town, south Africa. On October 10, 1992 the first ever mental health day was observed after the approval of this initiate.
Initially the day had no specific theme and its aim was to promote mental health and educate the public on relevant issues. Given the popularity of the campaign, for the first time in 1994, a theme was chosen for the day which was 'Improving the quality of mental health services around the world.'
Objective of World mental health day
The overall objective of this day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
This day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
Early signs of depression can help identify condition
Persistence sadness
Difficulty in concentration
Sleep disturbances
Fatigue or loss of energy
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Change in weight
Loss of interest or on activities
Theme of year 2023
The theme of World Mental Health Day 2023 is, 'Mental health is a universal human right'. Emphasis will be laid on increasing awareness with this theme. Besides, a campaign will be launched to promote and protect everyone's mental health as a human right
Do these 5 exercises daily for good mental health, body and mind will remain healthy
Walking
Experts say that walking is the solution to many problems. If you are mentally unstable and often find yourself upset, then you can take a walk. It has become clear from many researches that people who take morning walk have lower stress level, depression decreases and such people also suffer less from worries. If you do not have time to walk in the morning, you can also walk in the evening. It is not necessary that you walk for 30 to 40 minutes. Experts say that even just a 15 minute walk is very beneficial.
Yoga
Yoga is a separate discipline in itself, which teaches to control the speed of breathing. There are innumerable benefits of yoga. Psychiatrists also believe that people who do yoga regularly are calm in mind. This is because the spirituality of yoga is based on meditation and breathing. Yoga is a type of calming exercise, which allows you to focus completely on the body. Let us tell you that there are many types of yoga. You can do any yoga of your choice. But definitely take help from experts. As you make yoga an integral part of your lifestyle, your mental health will improve.
Cycling
Like walking, cycling is also a beneficial exercise for our mental health. It releases our ‘feel-good’ hormones. Feel good hormones are known as endorphins. This hormone helps to relax your mind and make you feel happy. It also improves mood and removes anxiety and depression. It also reduces the risk of feeling stressed.
Martial arts
Martial arts like boxing, kickboxing etc. are also a form of exercise. To become an expert in this kind of genre, a person has to practice a lot. Martial arts experts say that it is not just a physical activity, but it also helps in improving mood and keeping mental health good. These exercises help in providing a good supply of mood-boosting endorphins. Besides, they are also considered a stress buster. Doing martial arts increases self-confidence, increases strength and improves concentration. All these qualities work to make you emotionally strong.
Games that boost mental health
Incorporating mental health games and activities into your daily routine can have a significant positive impact on human’s overall well-being. Here are some games and activities one must do for improving mental health
Play outdoor and indoor games like chess, badminton, swimming, sudoku, crosswords, lawn tennis, gymnastics
mindfulness colouring
gratitude journaling
deep breathe exercises
affirmation cards
the five senses exercises
mental health board games
guided imagery meditation
art therapy
CBT Games