Student Mental Health Information Online

Promotion at the Universal Level

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How much do you know about mental health literacy?

In our daily life, we often ask questions about mental health, such as:
  • Does good physical health mean good mental health?
  • My friend is lethargic and cries a lot.  Is he suffering from depression?
  • Are mental health problems hereditary?
  • Does mental illness necessarily require medication?
  • Is there any way to promote mental health?

One of the ways to address these questions is to improve the "mental health literacy" of the general public.
 

What is "mental health literacy"?
The World Health Organisation defines health as a "state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”.  At the mental level, the most direct way to promote people’s well-being is to improve their "mental health literacy", enhance their awareness of mental health, and establish a positive environment to prevent and reduce the risk factors for mental health problems.  The key elements of mental health literacy include:

Ways to maintain good mental health
  • Practise a healthy lifestyle, such as having a regular daily routine, adequate sleep, regular exercise and a balanced diet.
  • Maintain good social relationships, such as spending more time with relatives or friends, cultivating the habit of helping others, and doing voluntary work to care for others.
  • Maintain emotional stability, such as knowing how to manage emotions, being able to cope with daily stress, enjoying learning and enjoying life.
Understanding mental health disorders and their effective treatments
  • Understand the early symptoms of mental health disorders and their effective treatments.
  • Pay attention to the warning signs of mental health disorders, identify them early and seek help as soon as possible.
Encouraging people who have mental health needs to seek help
  • Take the initiative to care for others and help one another.
  • If you suspect that you or your friend is experiencing mental health problems, seek professional help as soon as possible.
Reducing the stigmas attached to people who seek help or have mental illness
  • People with mentall illness are often misunderstood and labeled as being bizarre, violent or unreliable.  These stigmatisations create prejudice, exclusion and discrimination against people with mental health conditions, preventing them from seeking early help from relevant professionals.
  • To remove the stigmas, one should understand and deal with mental illnesses with a balanced attitude, including clarifying common misconceptions, seeking help as early as possible, and showing concern and acceptance to the mentally ill.

Everyone, be they students, teachers or parents, can have a correct understanding of mental health by improving their “mental health literacy”, and can promote the mental health of themselves and their friends with a positive and tolerant attitude.

 
Want to know more?

 

Ways to maintain good mental health
Understanding mental health disorders and their effective treatments
Encouraging people who have mental health needs to seek help
Reducing the stigmas attached to people who seek help or have mental illness

 

 

 

 

 


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