MENTAL HEALTH Diseases affect men and women with the same prevalence, effects and diagnosis. There is always a need to talk about mental health, whether for men or women. Breaking stereotypes, International Men’s Day is celebrated on November 19 of each year to highlight and promote awareness of the effort and contributions of men in society. The theme of this year’s International Men’s Day is “Helping Men and Boys”.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are more likely to commit suicide than women. Society recognizes men as bold, strong, courageous and masculine people, perfect in managing their feelings and emotions. Good mental state is as important as oxygen. Men generally don’t talk about the problems they face.
According to Beyond Blue statistics, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Nearly 1 in 10 men experience some form of depression or anxiety, but less than half seek treatment. Take a look below at some effective tips to take care of men’s mental health.
1. Practice mindfulness
Being aware of your needs, feelings, emotions, actions, and environment is an essential part of self-care. Increases self-control, objectivity, focus, emotional intelligence, concentration, and mental clarity. Pay attention to your habits and things, try to live in the moment, accept yourself as you are and focus on your breathing.
2. Meditation
Meditation is a source of mindfulness. Meditation allows you to focus on attention and eliminate thoughts and emotions that cause stress. It produces a deep state of relaxation and a calm mind.
3. Art of Affirmations
How often do we affirm things? Believing in the universe and supporting yourself with kind words is one of the most crucial parts of good mental health. Numerous investigations show that self-affirmation phrases help reduce stress in an individual.
4. Practice gratitude
The act of being thankful for the universe and God or appreciating the world for all that you have is known as gratitude. Gratitude is an art that helps improve mood and temperament. When an individual begins to show gratitude for everything in his life, happiness, peace and positive emotions surround him improving his mental health.
5. Know your body
With an increased workload and family responsibilities, men tend to forget about the needs of their bodies, which include being available to themselves. Being stressed, exhausted, and anxious are some of the first signs of declining mental health. Get to know your body and the signals your body is displaying and divert your attention to your needs and your mental health. According to Mental Health Week, Inactive men are 60% more likely to suffer from depression than active ones.
Many mental health organizations are working to improve men’s mental health, including the Men’s Health Network, the Movember Foundation, the Men’s Health Forum, and many more.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.)
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