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At Remote Area Medical (RAM®), we often discuss the importance of taking care of your overall health — including mental well-being.
RAM Volunteer, Kent Brouwer DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, worked at a RAM Clinic treating patients in triage, and his area of study at the University of Kentucky is in mental health. He knows the impact mental and physical health can have on each other. “Mental health is just as important as physical health! It requires time, attention and care,” says Dr. Brouwer.
What is ‘Mental Health?’ —
“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being,” according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). “It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.”
Mental and physical health are often interconnected — one affecting the other. “We know that mental health and physical health are closely linked,” says Dr. Brouwer. “Stress and anxiety can contribute to physical issues such as heart disease, while conditions that are chronic in nature, such as chronic pain, can impact mental health and overall well-being.”
Taking care of mental health directly impacts physical health and vice versa, so it is important to maintain healthy habits and routines.
Creating healthy habits can go a long way toward improving overall mental well-being:
- Getting Active — Physical activity has been proved to have a positive effect on your health, with the biggest impact for those who do not have access to other forms of therapy. A daily, 30-minute walk can improve your mood and overall health [National Institutes of Health (NIH)].
- Whether you take your dog, a friend, or go alone, get out and get active — your mental health will benefit!
- Drinking Water and Eating Balanced Meals — Another way to support your well-being is through drinking water and eating well balanced meals to improve energy and focus throughout the day. Too much caffeine and alcohol can affect one’s mood and overall wellbeing [NIH].
- Strengthening Social Connections — Social interactions can limit overall feelings of loneliness. Friends and family members can also be a good resource for emotional and moral support [NIH].
- Ways to strengthen social connections could include meeting up with friends, grabbing coffee, or joining a club — however it’s done, spending time with others is an important part of taking care of mental health.
- Getting Enough Sleep — It is important to aim for 7-9 hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep. Distress can be significantly increased by a lack of sleep [CDC]. Relaxing and avoiding blue light exposure before bed are great ways to increase quality of sleep.
- Practicing Mindfulness — Practicing mindfulness can improve emotional regulation and lower the impact of stress and anxiety [Dr. Brouwer]. Mindfulness can look different to everyone; it often looks like being aware of “not living your life on ‘autopilot.’” [NIH].
- A good place to start with mindfulness is considering positivity and gratitude — practicing mindfulness daily can positively impact mental health.
- Dr. Brouwer Recommends — Other useful skills include meditation practices, journaling, music therapy, and anything else that makes one happy. Saying, “. . . activities that individuals already do that bring individuals joy and gratitude into their lives are easy ways to improve one’s mental health.”
Supporting Your Mental Health
Maintaining and caring for your mental health looks different for everyone. Implementing these habits into self-care routines is an effective tool to help prevent future mental health issues from arising.
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Creating and maintaining healthy habits will have a positive impact on one’s overall mental health. However, these habits might not fully replace clinical treatment. Speaking to a trained, licensed professional is an important tool for improving and maintaining mental health. “Improving and addressing mental health concerns may create a space for individuals to participate in activities that support their wellbeing,” Dr. Brouwer said.
Confidential and anonymous resources are available to help individuals find necessary care. In the event of a mental health emergency, dial 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/ to chat.
Remote Area Medical (RAM®) — Learn more about us!
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