WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
Speaking of health, we often mean only the physical health of a person, without taking into account the mental well-being of a person, which is an integral part of it. The WHO Charter states:
«Health – is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
Mental health includes not only the absence of mental disorders, but a whole complex that includes a state of personality in which they are able to develop and realize their abilities, can experience and effectively use strategies to overcome everyday life stresses, realize their professional potential and promote development in their community.
Connection between mental and physical health of people
Mental health is essential for personal well-being, maintaining healthy family relationships and a person’s ability to contribute to society. Physical health is impossible without mental health, because they are connected in many ways. Our emotions and feelings have an impact on our physical well-being and vice versa. Therefore, for example, special attention should be paid to the mental health problems of people with chronic physical diseases, the health of people suffering from mental illness, providing them with support and professional assistance when necessary.
Factors that affect mental health negatively: prolonged negative stressful situations, inability to maintain adequate relationships with others, conflicts, insufficient rest, sedentary lifestyle, external stimuli (noise, physical obstacles, etc.), financial instability, uncertainty about the future, emotional “burnout,” information overload, etc.
Mental health is the foundation of well-being and wellness of each person, because it affects all spheres of life of an individual without exception. On the other hand, the well-being and wellness of everyone is the foundation of the effective economic and social functioning of society and taking care of it is a vital necessity for every community in the world. In general, the health of the entire population of the country depends on the level of well-being of each person. Read in details here Політика-у-сфері-ПЗПСП-ЧХ-стиснуто-1.pdf (redcross.org.ua).
In its activities, the Red Cross Society of Ukraine pays special attention to caring for the mental health of individuals, families and communities, in particular through conducting activities for psychosocial support for the population, staff and volunteers. The activities of the URCS are carried out in accordance with the Policy in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, as well as the methodological materials of the PSS Center of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Such activities have been carried out by the Society for 8 years. Since the beginning of the escalation of the armed conflict on February 24, 2022, the Red Cross Society of Ukraine has increased activities that provide psychosocial support in the regions of Ukraine, since such activities are extremely necessary in the current conditions. Psychosocial support activities include support groups, activities with elements of creativity, family measures, activities to improve the well-being of children and others. Currently, such activities are carried out in Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnitsky, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia, Vinnitsa, Kyiv, Kharkov, Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, Kherson regions.
In addition, the Red Cross Society provides the necessary and important support for its staff and volunteers by conducting educational trainings for volunteers and staff, support groups, as well as informal events aimed to support.
Remember that all people need support. You are not alone! There are always people nearby who will understand and help. When you feel that it is difficult for you to cope by yourself, ask specialists for help! For psychological support, you can contact the hotline of the URCS 0 800 332 656.
Take care of your own mental health and your loved ones!