MENTAL HEALTH CRUCIAL TO COMMUNITY HEALTH
OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS CRUCIAL TO COMMUNITY HEALTH.
BY: Attat Oluwabunmi Folake.
The name “mental health” does not give the right vibes in our society today, whenever the word “mental” is mentioned it is believed that something is wrong. However, this is not so. Mental health, simply put is the state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. This is according to Wikipedia.
Mental health is a neglected aspect of a person’s life and if you ask me is the most important. Our parents taught us many things but forgot to help nurture our mental health. In our society today, many things that are going wrong is as a result, not knowing one’s ability, not knowing how to cope with normal stresses of life and unwillingness to work productively and effectively as well as not wanting to contribute to the community.
Hence, we have a student who is very good academically commit suicide because he went blank in the exam hall and couldn’t deal with the shame of failing, or having to retake the course and not graduating with a first class of which he had boasted of for three years in school or coping with having an extra year in school.
Encouraging our children to do well in school and in life is a noble thing but it is not enough, we should also prepare them to fail. Although, our wish is not for them to fail in life, we should prepare them to cope with failures and also share with them personal experiences of when we their parents failed too. Telling them, how we coped and what helped us dust ourselves from the floor and rise again. As beautiful and inspiring as success stories are, adding our down moments and failures makes them even more inspiring.
In addition, it helps them know that in the pursuit of success and happiness there are challenges and victory is sure if we don’t give up. Also, this helps them to know that when they go through trying times they are not alone and there is a way out. This teaching that was omitted in the lives of some of us as we grew is one of the reasons for decay in our society today.
In conclusion, teachings on mental health should be revitalized in both adults and children, to help heal our communities. We must learn to start taking responsibilities, work hard and smart, cope with daily stresses without breaking, be productive and give back you our communities. Don’t you think so?
