Mental Health and Development

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

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry

• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse

• Family history of mental health problems

Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.

Your mental development will greatly affect your relationships, career and your education because it allows you a much better capacity for learning and knowing when to alter your reactions. Keeping yourself mentally strong by exercising your brain and making sure that you take time to relax are important parts of the process. Mental development is one that never ends and you never actually finish becoming a mentally stronger person.

It is recommended to keep a journal for your mental development just like you do for your emotional development. This will allow you to track how well you are doing and identify areas that you need to work more on.