Likely, you have ever put together a puzzle. You may be familiar with looking first for the corner pieces to complete the frame. Then start to classify the rest of the pieces according to other features, such as color or shape, to complete the inside part. Like a puzzle made of many pieces, mental health encompasses different things that we can classify into three significant areas: psychological, biological, and social. The American Psychological Association defines mental health as a state of mind characterized by emotional well-being, reasonable behavioral adjustment, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relationships and cope with life’s ordinary demands and stresses. To feel well, we need to address each one of those aspects. Achieving good mental health can be compared to assembling a puzzle. We must join the pieces of our emotions, thoughts, body, social relations, education, and culture, among many others. By putting together those pieces, we can see the whole image of our mental well-being.
Mental health is something that everyone should cultivate from childhood to elderly life. We all have a body we care for, whether we have medical issues or not. In the same way, we must take care of our minds regardless of whether or not we are diagnosed with a mental disorder. We should care about how we are feeling and thinking, and behaving. We should care about our social relationships and how they make us feel. We should care about our spiritual needs, environment, financial issues, education, future goals, and many other things because everything matters. Each of them has an impact on your mental well-being. To be the best version of ourselves, we must work on our mental health.
For everyone, the needs will be different. The aspects that need more attention in someone’s life at a particular moment can be entirely other for another person going through a similar situation. Everyone should do a self-assessment to identify what is missing or can be improved, so they can work on those things and find the help they need. Some people need to work more on their psychological aspects to learn how to deal with a personal situation. Others may have to pay attention to a medical issue causing a disability that impacts every part of their life. Whilst there might be people whose needs can be related to the social aspect because they are unemployed and has financial problems that threaten to make them homeless. Everybody is different. Every stage of life and every season demands something different to achieve a healthy balance.
As a puzzle made from different, unique pieces perfectly fitted together can show you the whole picture, taking care of your personal and particular needs can get you a mental well-being state. Mentally healthy people can be more productive and enjoy their life to the full. This approach will benefit the individual, their family, and the community. We can contribute to society better when we are at our best. We can be vocal about what it means to be mentally healthy. We can work on ourselves and show others by example that our mental health is worth working for. Little by little, we can join pieces to improve our well-being, and by doing so, we will also be working to build a better society and a better world.
