What is mental health?
- Kiana Kay
- Jun 20
- 2 min read
Mental health affects everything, it's about how you think and function every day. It helps you deal with feelings of stress and anxiousness, and to live your best life. Mental health is extremely important, and usually overlooked and ignored. Globally, 1 in 7 teens deal with bad mental health conditions and the majority of these issues are untreated. When these issues aren’t addressed, they worsen and lead teenagers to isolate themselves, distance themselves from their friends and family for example. As they worsen, they affect your physical health as well.
What affects mental health?
Mental health is affected by multiple factors, and specific factors affect people in different ways. Some of these factors are:
Habits: Going to sleep too late, and not exercising enough are proven to negatively impact your mental health
Environment: The people that you surround yourself with, your friends and family, your community plays a big role.
Stress levels: School work, bullying, and violence are factors that affect your day to day life and an severely harm your mental health
Protecting your mental health:
The good news is that there are lots of changes you can do to take care of your mental health:
Habits: Maintaining healthy habits such as 7-9 hours of sleep and regular exercise are proven to positively affect your mental health.
Surrounding yourself with supportive friends and a supportive environment.
Talk to a trusted adult or friend if you’re struggling, don’t stay silent.
Remember it’s always okay to ask for help. Mental health challenges are not a sign of weakness. Whether you’re feeling anxious or stressed, reach out. If you notice a friend struggling, make sure to listen to them and encourage them to seek help as well. Everyone has bad days, but by building healthy habits and having the right support group, you can thrive!
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