Jakarta, IO – “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.
Indeed mental health may be defined as “…a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and can make a contribution to his or her community”. Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. On this basis, the promotion, protection, and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities, and societies throughout the world.
“The WHO definition states that we are mentally healthy when we feel fine and happy, are able to face life’s challenges and accept other people as they are. A healthy family and workplace environment also promotes mental health. One is said to be suffering from a mental disorder if our behavior interferes with daily functioning, at work or in a social environment. We may feel anxious or sad, but still be able to function and do our work well; thus, there are no apparent mental disorders. It does not necessarily signify that sad people will slide into depression – it is not that simple,” stated dr. Alvinia Hayulani, Sp.KJ, a psychiatrist from Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta, in a talk show themed “Take Care of Your Mental Health” held on Tuesday (19/12/2023).
Like two sides of a coin, in the current “social media era”, dr. Nina, as she is known, admits that many people might mistakenly self-diagnose mental disorders, based on something they read on the internet. In fact, complaints such as anxiety, feeling angry or stress are normal human conditions.
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“Many patients come to complain that they have mental disorders, and then attempt to self-medicate. The important thing is to get to know yourself by trying to use coping mechanisms, for example by watching Korean dramas, doing hobbies, or keeping a journal. Each person has a different defense mechanism. Writing for ‘A’ is not necessarily suitable for others,” observed a psychiatrist, who said her patients aged 20-26 complained of anxiety because of their academic assignments.
Finally, to avoid anxiety and maintain mental health, we must adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious food, getting enough rest and exercising regularly. “Manage stress by, for example, looking for a friend to talk to: don’t keep your issues bottled up inside of yourself,” she advised. (est)