Mental And Behavioural Problems As Risk Factors For Morbidity And Mortality
It is becoming increasingly clear that mental functioning is fundamentally interconnected with physical and social functioning and health outcomes.
For example, depression is a risk factor for cancer and heart diseases. And mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and substanceuse disorders in patients who also suffer from physical disorders may result in poor compliance and failure to adhere to their treatment schedules. Furthermore, a number of behaviours such as smoking and sexual activities have been linked to the development of physical disorders such as carcinoma and HIV/AIDS.
Among the 10 leading risk factors for the global burden of disease measured in DALYs, as identified in the World Health Report 2002, three were mental/behavioural (unsafe sex, tobacco use, alcohol use) and three others were significantly affected by mental/ behavioural factors (overweight, blood pressure and cholesterol).
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health is more than the mere lack of mental disorders. The positive dimension of mental health is stressed in WHO’s definition of health as contained in its constitution:
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Concepts of mental health include subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence and recognition of the ability to realize one’s intellectual and emotional potential. It has also been defined as a state of well-being whereby individuals recognize their abilities, are able to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to their communities. Mental health is about enhancing competencies of individuals and communities and enabling them to achieve their self-determined goals. Mental health should be a concern for all of us, rather than only for those who suffer from a mental disorder.
Mental health problems affect society as a whole, and not just a small, isolated segment. They are therefore a major challenge to global development. No group is immune to mental disorders, but the risk is higher among the poor,homeless, the unemployed, persons with low education, victims of violence, migrants and refugees, indigenous populations, children and adolescents, abused women and the neglected elderly.
For all individuals, mental, physical and social health are closely interwoven, vital strands of life. As our understanding of this interdependent relationship grows, it becomes ever more apparent that mental health is crucial to the overall well-being of individuals, societies and countries. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world,mental health and mental disorders are not accorded anywhere the same importance as physical health. Rather, they have been largely ignored or neglected.
Make Color Work For You
Color is an amazing gift from nature. It is a living vibrational energy that is perceived and absorbed by your senses. It has a subtle yet potent interaction with your emotions and brain.Meanwhile,the colors you wear can reflect how you are feeling to the world, you can intentionally wear colors to shift your mood or you can hide from the world (blacks the color which shrinks your presence).
There are colors which stimulate the thinking (left) side of your brain and colors which stimulate the creative (right) side of your brain. There are colors to help you relax and others to energise and excite. Whilst some colors encourage communication others evoke stillness.
Neutral Colors
What they are: Think of these as the shades that you wouldn’t necessarily find in your crayon box. Neutral colors consist of off-whites, beiges, black, and grays.
What they do: Though some might consider them boring, these shades also create an air of tranquility. Many spas and doctors’ offices use these colors to inspire calm in their clientele.
Make them work for you: If serenity is what you’re looking for, then you can create an oasis at home with this toned-down color palette. Although neutral colors are often used as a bridge for brighter shades, in the right combinations, they can create a space in your home that’s fit for an escape from the daily demands of life.
Warm Colors
What they are: These colors do just what their name implies–create feelings of warmth and comfort. Dark reds, burnt oranges, golds, and lighter shades of brown are all examples of warm colors.
What they do: They are known to liven up a space, inspire conversation, all while remaining in the background. These darker shades of otherwise lively colors are said to invoke deep emotions such as passion, contentment, and affection.
Make them work for you: Often, colors that inspire warmth are used in a bedroom, living room, or office to create a homey or cozy feeling. You can bring that feeling to the workplace by substituting your white coffee mug with a color reminiscent of an autumn sunset or by replacing your black picture frame with a frame in a hue suggestive of a glass of red wine. You’d be surprised how far a touch of warmth can resonate.
Earth Tones
What they are: Any color that feels like it comes from nature–including dark browns, forest green, khaki, and olive–falls under the category of earth tone.
What they do: These colors can make a person feel grounded and in touch with their surroundings. Earthy shades tend to balance and inspire personal growth.
Make them work for you: Bathrooms usually feel sterile–not unlike a dentist’s office. Instead, picture this: a warm, cascading shower with a natural, rejuvenating paint scheme surrounding you. This could be one way to utilize earth tones to turn an ordinary experience into something else completely.
Cool Colors
What they are: Imagine how you’d feel if you were surrounded by an ocean of turquoise, vibrant blues, and sage green.
What they do: Unless you were part of the cast of Lost, you would probably feel calm, languid, and refreshed. Cool colors often evoke quiet moods–as if you were removed from reality.
Make them work for you: Calmness is not an emotion often associated with working forty hours a week, being a parent, or both. In order to keep your cool in the most stressful of situations, try to utilize these soothing shades. It may mean hanging a work of art in your office at work or creating a space at home where you are encircled by these fresh colors. Try it-it’s one of the easiest ways to de-stress.
Holiday Stress And Children
The holiday season is upon us, and for many people that means decorating the house, baking cookies and shopping at the mall. The sound of Christmas music can be heard everywhere you turn. But if you listen carefully, you’ll hear more than just Bing Crosby dreaming of a white Christmas. Those other sounds you hear are children who are suffering from stress associated with the holiday season.
Families want their holidays to be special and happy for everyone, especially the children. But what many parents fail to remember is that the holiday season can be a time of hustle and bustle…and a never-ending whirlwind of stress for their children.
Think about it. Because children are especially vulnerable at this time of the year, it’s important to remember that they need to find some time to relax and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. But how can parents expect children to relax when they are running around like crazy, shopping, baking, decorating, and becoming stressed at the thought of blowing the holiday budget after just one trip to the mall.
You can help your children beat the holiday stress beast by following these tips:
• Adhere to your usual routines. Children crave structure, so late bedtimes and long trips to crowded malls can be major stressors.
• Discuss holiday plans well in advance, and include children in the process. Let the child who lives in two homes know the visitation schedule well ahead of time and make sure the child has time to enjoy events at both homes.
• Avoid empty promises. Hinting that an absent parent may be home for the holidays will only lead to disillusionment if the parent cannot be there. Be realistic about what presents are likely to arrive; even Santa has limited funds!
• If children seem upset, encourage them to express their feelings. Reflect back what they are saying and empathize.
• Limit the amount of time children spend playing video games or watching television.These can be convenient “babysitters” for overly busy parents, but children need physical activity more than ever to avert stress.
• Be sure children get plenty of rest. Lack of sleep increases irritability.
• Try to maintain a healthy diet that allows for a few treats of the season.
• Recognize the importance of family traditions and try to sustain them. Whether it is baking special treats, using holiday calendars to mark off the days, or reading wellloved stories together, traditions reassure children.
• Choose holiday events and activities carefully. Not all children are naturally outgoing and social. Honoring temperament and personality will make for a happier holiday.
• Remember to laugh together—always a great way to beat stress and boost moods!
Ways To Reduce Holiday Stress
The holidays are often depicted as a magical time when people reconcile and dreams come true. The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress. It is easy to get stressed out during the holiday season, especially if you try doing too many things at once and expect all of them to turn out perfect. Stress, as most of us know now, can undermine your health by making you more susceptible to illness, and so it is important to know how to minimize stress or at least learn how to handle it better.
Holiday stress is caused by heightened states of anxiety that may be caused by financial instability, busy shopping malls, time deadlines, high workloads, depression, relationships, physical demands, or family stress. Signs of holiday stress include feeling irritable, feeling overwhelmed, insomnia, weight gain, headaches, sickness and depression.
According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress related causes each week. When the holidays come along, people already predisposed to stress can find themselves feeling blue and more stressed out than usual.
For those who don’t ordinarily feel stressed under the pressure of events or deadlines, the holidays can still play havoc with our lives. So what can we do? Plan for stress, say the experts, just like you plan ahead for any calamity you want to avoid.
The good news is you don’t have to let stress ruin your holidays. Try to pinpoint what you’re anxious about. Are you feeling stressed because you’re not going to be able to fulfill your children’s gift requests? Are you and your spouse wrangling over holiday expenses? Are you feeling left out because your friends are enjoying the season and you’re not?
Start by considering your attitude. There’s no magic bullet, but your attitude can make a difference. Ask yourself: Is your situation a small, medium or large problem? How upset do you want to get over it, and for how long? Look at the possibilities around you, not the restrictions.
1)Quick Tips for Stress Reduction
# Have a positive attitude.
# Try not to worry about things out of your control.
# Problem solve with people around you. Ask them to help you alleviate stress.
# Exercise. A few extra minutes of exercise a day can benefit your overall health.
# Eat Nutritional food. Decrease the amount of fat and sugar you eat.
# Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages
# Rest. Try to get eight hours of sleep each day.
# Get a massage. A massage can be beneficial for the mind and body.
2)Try dedicating some time each day to meditate.
* Quiet place. Find a spot in your home or outside that’s quiet and removed from other distractions.
* Music. Play some quiet, mellow music that helps you relax.
* Deep, full breathing. Breathe deeply and concentrate on your breathing.
* Focus. Your mind may wander, but as it does just refocus on your breathing — this isn’t a time to sort through your thoughts, this is a time to recenter yourself and clear your mind of the daily stressors.
Take 10 minutes each day to meditate and you’ll see your stress levels reduce. Remember, exercising, eating healthfully, and getting proper amounts of sleep will also help you manage stress.
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