Cornerstones of Good Mental Health

Two important cornerstones of good mental health are resiliency and the ability to develop supportive relationships. Even though disappointment, loss and change are normal events in life; they often cause feelings of stress, sadness and anxiety. People who lack good mental health can be overwhelmed by these feelings. Resiliency, the ability to persevere in the face of adversity and bounce back after traumatic or stressful events, is a vital component of good mental health. Resiliency provides the coping mechanisms people rely on to maintain the focus, flexibility and creativity necessary to weather difficult events.

The ability to recognize emotions and express them appropriately is a key component of resiliency. Resiliency allows people to balance negative emotions with positive ones, preventing a slide into depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. Increasing flexibility and providing balance in your life can improve resiliency. The following actions suggested by the American Psychological Association can help you build resiliency:

• Allow yourself to experience strong emotions. However, be aware that strong emotions may need to be avoided if they threaten to interfere with your ability to function.
• Be proactive about addressing problems as they occur, but learn to stop and relax when you need to reenergize.
• Spend time with loved ones and allow their support and encouragement to nurture you.
• Cultivate the ability to rely on others, but learn to rely on yourself, too.

Like resiliency, supportive relationships are important to good mental health. We are social creatures who crave companionship. We draw emotional strength from the support of other people. Developing an ability to forge positive relationships with others may take time and effort, but those connections are vital to our emotional health. Use these tips to help build strong, supportive relationships:

• Turn off the computer or television and socialize with family, friends and neighbors. Facebook and Twitter will never give you the same feeling of comfort or understanding as real, face-to-face human contact. So much of communication is expression and touch; things that are lost in the virtual world. To build supportive relationships, you need to connect with other people personally.
• Shared interests and helping others can forge bonds between people. To meet people who share your interests, join clubs or volunteer. Invite someone you enjoy to continue a conversation over a cup of coffee. It could be the start of a beautiful friendship!