How To Care For Your Mental Health Amidst Economic Crisis-Expert

As the world celebrates World Mental Health Day today, mental health expert Obiageli Nnadi offers ten essential tips for promoting mental health and well-being.

Observed annually on October 10, this year’s theme, “Mental Health at Work,” underscores the significance of mental health and well-being in the workplace. It aims to benefit not only individuals but also organizations and communities.

In an interview with THE WHISTLER, Nnadi emphasized the importance of maintaining good mental health. She highlighted key practices such as getting sufficient sleep, taking time for activities you enjoy, staying active, and eating well as foundational steps toward mental well-being.

Other recommendations included nurturing relationships, connecting with others, managing stress through adaptive coping strategies, participating in group activities, and building confidence. Nnadi also suggested being comfortable in one’s own skin, setting realistic goals, handling tasks as they arise, and seeking help when needed.

“Everyone needs support from time to time. Talking to a family member, a friend, your doctor or one of the many services available can make all the difference,” said Nnadi, who is the founder of the mental health NGO, LNL International.

Nnadi noted that mental health is a broad concept influenced by various factors, primarily related to quality of life. This includes the ability to manage stress and sadness, set and achieve goals, and maintain healthy relationships.

“Mental health is a positive concept related to the social and emotional wellbeing of individuals and communities. Having good mental health, or being mentally healthy, is more than just the absence of illness, rather it’s a state of overall wellbeing,” she explained.

She elaborated that mental health is affected by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. These include: structural factors such as safe living environments, employment, education, freedom from discrimination and violence, and access to economic resources; community factors such as a positive sense of belonging, community connectedness, activities to highlight and embrace diversity, social support, and participation in society; and individual factors such as “the ability to manage thoughts and cope with stressors and having communication and social skills to support connection with others.”

World Mental Health Day aims to increase awareness of mental health issues and promote efforts to support those who experience them. Initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health, it was first observed in 1992.