It is sad to think that of the 1 in 4 people who display symptoms of clinical depression, over half of those do not receive any treatment. Depression and anxiety symptoms in men, women, and children can have a variety of meanings because there are different types of depression.
Clinical depression is not the same as brief mood fluctuations or the feelings of sadness, disappointment, and frustration that we get from time to time and which don’t last long. Clinical depression is a more serious condition that lasts weeks to months, sometimes for years.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Emotional And Mental Health?
People do want to know how to prevent depression, but millions fail to get help for fear of others thinking they are “weak” or that they are “losing it.” That’s why mental health is a hidden epidemic.
About one million people around the globe commit suicide every year. It is urgent to address this crisis now, otherwise, there is going to be a bigger price that will affect our children and future generations.
We all struggle with mental challenges now and then. Dr. Oz says his prescription for looking after your mental health is –
Some good advice on how to prevent depression.
- When it’s a loved one that is suffering, opening up the dialogue so the loved one knows you are there for them is the most important step. It’s one of the great benefits of good mental health. Research has shown that children who have dinner with their families regularly are less likely to try out drugs and other methods of substance abuse.
- Medicine is something else that should be considered and adapted for mental and emotional health issues so that people can get the care they need sooner.
- Those with mental health issues and those without should consider taking a Mental Health First Aid course – it helps you recognize the signs of depression and even suicide and provides support and benefits of good mental health.
Means To Avoid Depression and Relapse
Scientists mention 12 ways on how to prevent depression or to prevent relapse – something that the Bible already knew thousands of years ago.
With the pervading disappointment and sadness around, mental ill-health is a very hot topic today, and it is costing the government millions. Naturally, there is a race on finding cures, including books with titles like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or Lost Connections.
Depression and anxiety symptoms in men, women, and children have become so serious today that it has become necessary to examine what is causing depression, how to improve mental health, and avoid a relapse.
1. Don’t disconnect from work
Many times, depression results from a lack of empowerment and control in work. It’s that lack of purposeful and meaningful work that many are depressed. Yes, many have jobs they are grateful for, but when their jobs have passion and meaning in them, it is considered one of the top benefits of good mental health.
2. Don’t disconnect from people
No man is an island, and in fact, humans have a need to belong. How to improve mental health means involving yourself with other humans – retreating from them will cause your mental health to suffer. Humans need social connections for protection and mutual aid. Your connection with Facebook friends is nowhere near sufficient to keep you connected.
3. Don’t disconnect from your true values
The Western world today has “junk values”, which cause plenty of disappointment and anxiety symptoms in men and women. Research says humans today want fast and fleeting materialistic things; the faster and bigger, the better.
Humans have an innate need to connect, to feel valued and secure, and to make a difference in the world. And because all the faster and immediate stuff isn’t what is connecting us to people, we wonder why we never feel satisfied.
4. Don’t disconnect from respect and status
Today, society has become unequal, and there is a huge misuse of power. One of the benefits of good mental health is equality in societies.
5. Don’t disconnect from nature
We are so busy walking with our heads down in our manufactured cities that we wonder why we are anxious and depressed.
But we have forgotten how to improve mental health can come from a cheap, easy, and beautiful remedy, and that is the beauty of what the natural world and animals offer.
Humans need to be aware that they are part of something bigger and nature leaves us in awe.
6. Don’t allow yourself to fret about the future
Covid-19 is a good example of that. When we have feelings of hopelessness about the future and believe there is nothing to look forward to, we are inviting depression to set in.
The benefits of mental health result from practicing meditation and mindfulness during stressful times.
7. Find small ways to be of service to others
How to improve mental health by being of service to others is very rewarding. It gives much joy and satisfaction in seeing old people or animals, for example, benefiting from your kindness and service. It’s a wonderful cure for depression.
8. Go on an Anti-Depression diet for mental and emotional health
Read here about all the natural remedies for depression because a diet is imperative.
Some evidence from animal studies suggests that the ketogenic diet, which is high in fats and low in carbs, might have an antidepressant effect. There are excellent natural supplements to help you deal with how to prevent depression. These are:
- Fish Oil
- Vitamin D.
- B-Complex
- Adaptogen herbs
- St. John’s Wort
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Mugwort
9. Exercise
Exercise is an excellent step on how to improve mental health problems, and studies say this over and over again. Exercise releases endorphins, which are our feel-good chemicals. Try and exercise 3-5 times a week for at least 20 minutes or more.
10. Schedule pleasant activities or events
Never wait for yourself to first get in the mood. Visit shows, see concerts, go on holiday, start a hobby, and approach them with the right attitude. Practice gratitude while you are participating – take time to notice the good things, not the things that went wrong.
11. How to prevent depression requires regular sleep
That is imperative; because it gives balance to your life. Just staying up late one night and then sleeping excessively the next day feeds depression. Lying in bed trying to solve problems are not good ways to improve mental health. Make sure you get a restorative and peaceful sleep.
12. Avoid common triggers
Several factors can trigger symptoms of depression and stress, and they will vary between individuals. Avoid them or reduce them if you know the ones that are not good for you, such as:
- Avoid bad news and other media stuff, or movies are good ways to improve mental health.
- Most importantly, avoid the use of drugs and alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions on Ways to Improve Mental Health and How to Prevent Depression
Yes, problems such as bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms in men, women, and children can certainly cause personality changes.
The statistics are staggering. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 10 American adults says they suffer from mental and emotional health problems. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 6.7 percent of American adults have MDD, or major depressive disorder, during an average year. Look here to see what type of events can cause someone to become depressed.
As we mentioned above, get healthy sleep, a good diet, and exercise. Those three factors have been proven as excellent ways to improve mental health. We have some more advice here. Get help, too, if you think you are depressed.
Although doctors don’t know if all the ways to improve mental health will prevent depression entirely, you might be able to prevent a relapse if you follow the above tips. Some therapists even use a technique called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to do that. It combines cognitive therapy, which helps to change the way you think, using mindfulness.
Yes. There is no doubt that the implications of this pandemic, as well as the resulting economic recession, have had a huge effect on the mental and emotional health of people.
Conclusion
Fortunately, in the US, when it comes to how to prevent depression, now has a federal law that requires medical insurance companies to cover people for the treatment of mental illnesses, similar to the way physical health problems are treated. And it’s encouraging to see progress being made worldwide.
The WHO and the United Nations have integrated mental and emotional health as their goal on ways to improve mental health throughout the world.
That means in many parts of the world, primary care physicians are receiving training that will enable them to provide mental health services, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapies.
If you are someone who is feeling depressed, hopeless, and anxious, take the first step and get to your primary care physician.
That’s an excellent place to start because he or she can help you develop an action plan and also point you in the right direction for the care you required.
Depression is serious and if you feel so depressed that you feel suicidal, call immediately a lifeline of caring people who will take over from you placing that call – here’s that all-important number: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). What about the good Samaritans? You can call or text them at any time: (877) 870-4673 (HOPE).
