In recent years, mental health has increasingly become a topic of focus worldwide, especially since the start of the pandemic. In every sector, education, workplace or research, mental health has become the forefront of conversation and is increasingly recognised as essential to those adversely affected. A diagnosis is no longer needed to pay attention to their mental health. So I thought it was fitting that the focus for this Wellbeing Matters publication would be to look at mental health awareness, some suggestions for what you can do to improve your mental health and a discussion of the work we are doing to help support our pupils.
”According to the NIMH in the US, in 2020, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the US live with a mental illness.
According to the NHS in the UK, 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children will experience a mental health illness.
According to BioMed central, 9.3% of the Chinese population reported having a mental health disorder within a 12-month timeframe.”
To cover the full spectrum of mental health illnesses, even briefly, would turn readers away, so instead, I would like to discuss one aspect in greater detail and offer a selection of tips for those who might need suppor.
A term coined by Corey Keyes in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour in 2002, languishing, has made its way into the realm of mental health discussion recently. People who are languishing struggle to feel joy in what they do and might feel aimless. In psychology, they often discuss mental health on a spectrum of depression to flourishing. Someone languishing would find themselves somewhere in the middle, not depressed but not flourishing either. Languishing dulls your motivation and makes it harder to focus on tasks, and while languishing is not classed as a mental illness, it is a risk factor for developing a mental illness in the future.
To find out more about mental health:
National Centre for Mental Health China (Chinese) https://ncmhc.org.cn
National Health Services in the UK (English) https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
US Department of Health & Human Services (English) https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
Determine if you are languishing
Ask yourself a few questions. Do you wake up ready to start the day, or would you prefer to go back to sleep? Do you have a sense of purpose, or do you find most of how you spend your day meaningless?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/04/well/mind/languishing-definition-flourishing-quiz.html
Go with the flow
A flow state is when a person is fully engaged in the activity, the person is energised and enjoys the meaningful work—the process. People can find flow by taking on new challenges, doing something they enjoy or getting on with key to flow is not allowing your attention to be fragmented, dedicating uninterrupted time to get in the flow.
Savour and Celebrate
According to psychologists, savouring is about appreciating an event or activity in the moment. It is essential to share the victories, big or small, to help you see the good things around you. We often encourage our pupils to reflect on the positives as we celebrate success.
Show gratitude
Studies have shown that expressing gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, decreases depression and anxiety, and greater happiness. To make it easier, showing appreciation should not become a burden. Instead, try attaching it to other weekly rituals.
Do good deeds
Research has shown that concentrating on good deeds is better than spreading them out. So do something nice for people around you or volunteer.
Find your purpose
To truly flourish, people need to believe that what they do has a purpose. So find meaning in all that you do. For some, this might require a reframing of how they view their work. If you are feeling down, you could start with a small project that can give you a sense of accomplishment when you finish, for example, organising your cupboards or a quick art project.
Take up a new challenge
Join a book club, learn a new language, try a new recipe or sign up for a yoga class. Although you do not need to make a significant change to stop feeling like you are languishing, seeking out new challenges can bring about new accomplishments and revitalise your purpose.
