The Importance of Mental Health and Well-being
Changes in our mental health can affect how we think, feel and act in our daily lives. When our mental health isn’t taken into account, often our abilities to make decisions, build relationships and exist in the world we live in can be impacted.
Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. When we neglect caring for our mental health, it can often affect other aspects of our lives. Our mental health is an essential part of our overall health and well-being, as there is a direct correlation between the body and mind. Ignoring signs of declining mental health can also risk harming our bodies. So, just as we would take care of our physical health, it’s equally important to check-in with how we’re doing mentally.
Are mental health issues just a lack of faith?
It’s important to recognize that mental health problems are not a sign of weakness or a lack of faith. They are a part of life and can happen to anyone. A common stereotype of mental illness is that if one is not religious enough, they will experience mental health issues. But it doesn’t matter how much you pray or read the Quran or work on strengthening your spirituality; ultimately, mental health issues can affect anyone. Faith is our relationship to God, while mental health issues arise from psychological, biological and environmental factors.
What contributes to our mental health?
There are many factors that influence our mental state. These include psychological, biological and environmental contributors.
Psychological: Our emotional/mental functions. Are you aware of and able to regulate positive and negative feelings? Are you challenging yourself and keeping an active mind?
Biological: Our body’s make-up and how we function. Are you more susceptible to mental health issues due to genetics or substance use?
Environmental: Our external circumstances. Are you experiencing unfavourable social, economic, geopolitical or environmental circumstances? Poverty, violence and environmental deprivation also increase the risk of mental health issues.
Mental health is fluid; so while there may be one day where we feel okay mentally, we have to make sure these feelings are sustainable. Regularly checking in on ourselves and environmental stressors is a step towards ensuring optimal mental health. Achieving better states in our mental, spiritual and physiological health is a constant journey that we traverse all our lives.
Dealing with mental distress
“By the brightness of mid-morning, by the night’s darkness. Your Lord hasn’t deserted you,
nor is He displeased with you. Your future will be better than the past.”
[93:1-4]
Even if, or when, our dedication to Allah falters, His dedication to us remains. Know that you are never alone even if you may feel like it in that moment. Seeking mental health support can be a nerve-wracking experience, even if you’ve done it before, but especially if you haven’t. Nevertheless, it’s an important step in maintaining your overall well-being, and Sakeenah’s here to help.
There are many different resources available and ways that people choose to better their mental health. Because of the vast variety of methods, it’s often a matter of trial and error until you find out what works best for you.
Some options are:
Psychotherapy: A talk-based one-on-one counselling session with a licensed professional. The client and professional work to identify and change troubling thoughts and feelings. This can also be done in conjunction with medication.
Spirituality: Religious/spiritual affiliation and practice often make people feel closer and more connected to a higher power which can help alleviate the impact of day-to-day stressors.
Community: People are social creatures; we’re made to be in community with one another so connecting with others is a great way to boost your mental state.
Physical wellness: Exercise, fresh air and healthy living are known to be extremely helpful for your mental health.
Wellness programming: Workshops, halaqas or other community gatherings that encourage you to reflect on your needs and find support. This can also include things like breathing exercises and self-reflection.
Support groups: These groups have a therapist or qualified facilitator that guide discussions between participants. This is also a great way to get to know other people who experience similar hardships.
While this list only has one treatment for mental illness (psychotherapy), the other options help us learn to navigate our bodies and minds in ways that can help us achieve an overall balance. InshaAllah this introduction offers you a place to start, and may Allah make your mental health journey flow with ease. Ameen.
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