Why Investing in Mental Health Is Important

The quest for stable mental health should be a priority now more than ever. 

Mental health influences all areas of our lives. Everything from our physical health, creativity, happiness is affected. Until you understand how deeply it affects us, you might not recognize how important it is. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO): 

“Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the everyday stresses of life, can work productively, and can make a contribution to his or her community.” 

From this, it is evident that poor mental health affects individual productivity and the community at large.  Social, psychological, and biological factors determine a person’s mental health at a point in time.  This article sheds more light on why you should invest in your mental health.

Independence of Thought and Action

When you are in the right frame of mind, you can make sound and independent decisions, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized. 

Individuals’ ability to coordinate their thoughts, actions, feelings and communications with other people is an integral part of human existence. 

Many mental health disorders tamper with the thought process. It impedes a person’s ability to make rational decisions and perform activities. Conditions that deny individuals of independent thought, willpower, and deeds are perceived as disabling, and they reduce the quality of life of such an individual. 

Burden of Illness

In severe mental health disorder cases, the burden of the illness is not limited to the individual alone but also affects the family/caregivers. Therefore, it is pertinent to invest in your mental health because it affects other people around you too. 

They go through phases of denial, confusion, and exhaustion from ensuring that the treatment regimen is adhered to. They also face a loss of funds and valuable time caring for a loved one with serious mental illnesses.

Economic Implication

Studies have shown that households of individuals suffering from severe medical disorders (SMDs) are at a disadvantage, economically. At the household level, it leads to reduced earnings, unprecedented expenditure on healthcare as well. It also leads to absenteeism and reduced productivity at the industrial level.

Effect on Physical Health

Mental disorder predisposes a sufferer risk of incapacitation and untimely death from other diseases, attributed to neglect of the person’s physical health, an unhealthy diet, increased psychotropic substance abuse rates, and physical inactivity.

Final Thought

Health is the complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It’s not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  Your well-being should not be limited to the physical but must also include your mental health. 

Therefore, as we eat our apples, exercise, wear our masks, we should also look out for our mental health. Investing in mental health is very profitable because it gives you the right frame of mind to do other things.

Here’s the truth, you are overwhelmed, stuck and know something has got to change, but asking for help is hard. Most people think that their problems are not big enough for counseling and wait 8 years or more to reach out for help. At Compass Counseling we know that we all have mental health and you want to feel good about yourself and your relationships. Over the past 8 years, we have crafted an excellent team of professionals that have served thousands of people in Western KY and we want to help you on your path to change. Our Master's level therapists will support you and teach you skills to learn to manage the overwhelm and overcome your struggle. When you leave your first session, you will feel confident & ready to start on your path change.

Download our Free E-Book 10 Questions to Ask Before Starting Counseling. Learn more at www.compasscounseling.com If you would like to schedule an appointment today click here!