What comes to mind when you hear the term “Mental Health”?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health refers to “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Our mental health influences how we think, feel and behave in every day life. It also affects our ability to handle stress, face and overcome challenges, maintain and build relationships, and recover from difficulties and setbacks.

So how do we determine if we are “Mentally Healthy”? 

Here’s a simple checklist: Mentally healthy people……

• Enjoy life and have the ability to laugh and have fun.
• Are able to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.
• Feel a sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships.
• Are flexible and adaptable to change.
• Are able to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.

We all experience disappointment, loss, and change. While a normal part of life, these emotions and experiences still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress. But just as those who are physically healthy are able to bounce back from an injury or illness quickly, people with strong mental resilience bounce back from adversity, trauma and stress. They remain focused, flexible and productive in the bad times as well as the good.