Sophie Okolo, MPH

Mental health is a much-talked-about issue in the media. Yet we only tend to hear about it when someone has a problem with their mental health. However, it is possible to do many things to maintain positive mental health and even boost it. Read on to find out more. 

Use an app 

Simple as it may sound, one easy way to boost your mental health is to use an App. Many on the market can help too such as Rootd which is designed especially for those that struggle with anxiety and includes breathing exercises as well as education about anxiety and how to cope with it better. 

Borrow from DBT 

When it comes to mental health there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Indeed, many strategies have already been proven through scientific study to work. You will find one such strategy by searching for accepts DBT online. Accepts DBT is an acronym for a set of tools you can use to distract yourself from particularly intense and unpleasant feelings and emotions. 

These tools are particularly useful because they can help us focus on constructive ways of dealing with overwhelming emotions instead of potentially harmful ways like drinking too much or self-harm. They can also help people that struggle with anger and outbursts, as it helps them to self-regulate rather than explode. 

Start a gratitude journal 

Yes, it can seem a little cheesy to write down lists of things you are grateful for, especially if you are in a bad mood. However, it can help when it comes to mental health. This is because using a gratitude journal can help break up all-or-nothing thinking, which is so common when we are in a bad mood. 

Indeed, a gratitude journal can help us remember that even amid our suffering, there are things that we appreciate, and focusing on those things rather than the things that are going wrong can be a very useful mental health tool. 

Don’t believe everything you think 

Last of all, one of the most valuable mental health tips I’ve come across is to believe every thought your brain throws your way. Now, at first, this can sound super confusing because we experience thoughts (and sensations) as if they are a part of us. That is they feel as if they are happening to us.

​​However, what many eastern spiritual traditions, and now western medicine suggest is that our brain is an organ that is a lot like our stomach. After all, it takes in inputs from the outside world, digests them and processes them, sending out thoughts a bit like our digestive system does. What this means is that the thoughts we have are not necessarily true just because we have them. Instead, they are just our brain’s reaction to what it has been fed. 

Indeed, seeing thoughts as brain farts, makes it much easier to deal with the challenging ones, and much easier to focus on the ones that are truly valuable to us as well. All of which are marvelous for improved mental health. 

Bonus Tip: Consider your environment

Your space can impact your mental health just as much as it can your physical health. If the space is cluttered or dirty, then this can make you feel uncomfortable. Likewise, if you feel unsafe in your environment, such as fearing asbestos exposure, this needs to be taken into account. Sometimes, your environment can be exactly why your mental and physical health is deteriorating. So, why instead consider changing your environment to the way you fit your needs or even search for a better environment that can help you thrive?