Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet 970 million people around the world struggle with some sort of mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, and livelihoods. Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people.
Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.
Strong mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental health refers to the presence of positive characteristics that not only improve personal health but overall life quality. Several methods can be used to increase mental health, such as: connecting with others, spending time in nature, finding creative outlets, learning new skills, improving your sleep, paying attention to the present and taking up relaxation exercises – to name a few.