Opening up about your health, be it physical or mental, is always hard. Humans are driven by the need to fit in and avoid tough conversations, but sometimes breaking the silence is necessary to regain balance in your life. Talking about emotions, fears you’re trying to cope with, or struggles you’re going through should feel just as natural as exchanging information about the weather or your hobbies. If you are not sure how to start that important conversation about mental health and how to make it a priority in your life, keep reading. 

What Is the Definition of Mental Health?

Mental health includes all the emotional, social, and psychological aspects that work together to ensure an individual's well-being. It is just as important as physical health because it allows you to benefit from a healthy decision-making process, be successful in your relationships both at work and in your personal life, withstand stress, and adjust your behavior to the various situations that arise. 

Why Mental Health Conversations Are Important

There are more than a few reasons why mental health conversations are a must in your life. Here are a few of them:

1.  Removing the Stigma

When you opt for silence, you give stigma more power over you. If you decide to stop treating mental health as a conversation that shouldn’t be had, you avoid perpetuating false stereotypes that paint individuals who struggle as being weak or incapable. Only open and honest conversations can help society get rid of these outdated notions and pave the way for more people to speak up and find the help they need.

2.  Bringing Support Networks to Life

Opening up about mental health can end up strengthening relationships and bringing to life much-needed support networks. Whether a friend requires a listening ear or a family member is seeking guidance, every conversation held in a safe space has the power to make your loved ones feel heard and acknowledged. By establishing such healthy connections, you minimize or even eliminate the negative impact of isolation.

3.  Promoting Early Intervention

When left unaddressed, struggling with mental health can lead to a worsening of the situation. Honest conversations on the subject empower people to recognize the situation and seek the support necessary. They may be the key to making the changes that can bring serenity and lead to a brighter future. This is especially important when it comes to child and adolescent mental health.

4.  Encouraging Empathy and Understanding

Sharing stories and talking openly about struggles gives people the chance to show empathy towards each other and encourages them to forgo judgment in favor of understanding. As a result, society has the opportunity to work towards becoming more inclusive. 

The Role of Society and Individuals in Mental Health

Everyone plays an important role in making mental health discussions easier to initiate. The conversation is already global thanks to movements such as Mental Health Awareness Month which manages to emphasize the importance of a healthy mind in a healthy body every year. Its growing popularity on all channels, including social media networks, has the power to break stereotypes and make seeking help the norm. By showing your support to such movements, you nurture a culture of acceptance.

As an individual, you can keep mental health in the spotlight by never being afraid to be open or vulnerable. It’s important to check on the people you love and find that comfortable time and space for sharing your feelings and experiences in an attempt to establish deeper connections. It’s also important to keep educating yourself on the subject. By doing so, you can avoid misinformation and fight the stigma around mental health.

How can you encourage discussions about mental health?

Want to feel well-equipped for having those potentially tough conversations about mental health? It’s important to learn more about how you can initiate a positive dialogue. Every little detail matters when trying to broach such a sensitive subject. Make sure to:

·         Pick a quiet location that ensures a serene atmosphere. It can be a private room in your home or the informal setting that your favorite café can offer.

·         Employ active listening techniques at every step of the process. Pay attention to every word, rely on non-verbal cues, and carefully consider every sentence uttered. It’s important to feel heard, so make sure to leave any follow-up questions for when the person you’re listening to is finished.

·         Show empathy at every stage by trying to let the other person know you appreciate how hard opening up must be and that you value their trust.

·         Stay away from clichés. Usually, cataloging a problem someone is experiencing as just having a bad day or just needing to get over it, doesn’t keep the conversation flowing.

·         Avoid piling up the questions. It’s best to stay away from yes or no types of questions and opt instead for open-ended questions that allow your friend to supply details about all feelings and perceptions.

·         Emphasize the positive aspect of talking about mental health and feel free to share details about your own past struggles.

·         Listen to their mental health and wellbeing concerns and try to suggest ways of finding the extra support needed. 

Mental Health Conversations and Personal Growth

Investing time and energy in mental health conversations doesn’t only help build an accepting society. There’s also a ripple effect on your personal growth that needs to be acknowledged. There are several benefits you can count on:

·         Becoming more self-aware. By engaging in mental health conversations you give yourself the chance to take a closer look at your emotions, your thought process, and everyday behavior. As a result, you can better identify the stresses and triggers in your life and learn what further steps are necessary to protect your well-being.

·         Nurturing your emotional intelligence. In the attempt to better understand the feelings of those around you, you have the chance to become better equipped to recognize and handle the range of emotions you experience daily. Moreover, the heightened empathy level makes it easier to connect with those in your life at a deeper level and face challenges more easily due to improved emotional regulation.

·         Becoming more resilient. Openness about everyday struggles makes it possible to see them not as setbacks but as a chance to learn and improve. Such a healthy mindset can lead to a smoother road towards achieving your goals.

·         Improving communication skills. To have valuable mental health conversations you need to apply active listening techniques and not be afraid to be vulnerable. These are the hallmarks of healthy communication which is a must not only for personal relationships but also for succeeding in a professional setup.

·         Broadening your horizons. Exchanging mental health views gives you the chance to learn more about human experiences and better understand life and its complexity.

·         Better defining boundaries. Mental health and setting healthy boundaries go usually hand in hand. Therefore, you have the chance to become better at putting your needs first and never experience burnout.

·         Working on self-acceptance. Once you have those honest conversations about struggles, you realize imperfections are normal and they should be embraced as they have just as much value as strengths.

·         Improving decision-making processes. Mental health conversations also give you the chance to better understand your needs and priorities. As a result, it becomes easier to make decisions about everything from picking a new hobby to embarking on a new career path. 

What can you do to protect your mental health?

 If your goal is to lead a happy, healthy life, there are plenty of ways in which you can protect your mental health and achieve the balance you are after. Here are a few:

·         Never stop moving: Whether you favor long walks, evening runs, or hiking adventures, physical activity is a sure way of boosting endorphin production – those neurotransmitters that make you feel good. You will manage to improve your mood while boosting those energy levels and keeping your weight under control.

·         Opt for a balanced diet: It’s important to eat from all food groups and avoid low blood sugar levels by planning regular meals. Don’t forget to stay hydrated and supply your brain with the much-needed healthy fats in eggs, nuts, olive oil, avocados, and other goodies.

·         Don’t neglect your sleep: ideally, you should make sure you enjoy at least 7 or 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Your brain needs the chance to process what’s happened during the day and reboot.

·         Consider mindfulness: If you want to give your mind a break and fully relax, you should explore the benefits of yoga or meditation. Yoga has a positive effect even on your cognitive skills, including your memory and learning capacity.

·         Keep family and friends close: As social beings, humans need in their life healthy and fulfilling relationships that can supply the extra support necessary at times.

·         Laugh hard and laugh often: if you want to boost those chemicals that lower stress and can positively affect your mood, you should find reasons to laugh every day. So never say no to watching a comedy at the end of the day, playing around with your furry companions, or spending some quality time with your friends. 

Breaking the silence and having those tough mental health conversations is important for every individual as well as for society as a whole. Openness and honesty on this subject lead to eliminating stigma, bringing to life healthy support systems, and building a society that values empathy and acceptance. At the same time, being more open about your feelings and struggles is of great value when it comes to personal growth. So don’t hesitate to take the first step and start building that deeper connection with friends and family!