1. What is Mental Health
The term mental health is used to describe cognitive and emotional well being with respect to all mental faculties and state of mind
It suggests that an individual with a good mental health reflects inner joy, peace of mind and satisfaction in life
It is not essential that a person has all luxuries, riches and comfort so they are mentally healthy because even the rich and famous complain about stress
A person who lives with good mental health is perhaps one who has come to terms with the present circumstances and has learnt to enjoy the same.
Positive attitude towards life leads to good Mental Health

2. Nutrition and Mental Health
The food you eat can have a direct effect on your energy level, physical health and mood. A healthy diet is one that has enough of each essential nutrient, contains many foods from all the basic food groups, provides the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight, and does not have too much fat, sugar, salt or alcohol.
By choosing foods that can give you steady energy you can help your body stay healthy. This may also help your mind feel good. The same diet doesn’t work for every person.
Eat what is right for you

3. Exercise and Mental Health
Regular physical activity is important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone including older adults.
Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age.
Regular physical activity over long periods of time can produce long term health benefits. That’s why experts say that everyone should be active every day to maintain their health

4. Sleep and Mental Health
Your mind and body will feel better if you sleep well. Your body needs time every day to rest and heal.
If you often have trouble sleeping – either falling asleep, or waking during the night and being unable to get back to sleep – one or several of the following ideas might be helpful:
- Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning. Avoid sleeping in. It will make you feel worse.
Establish a bedtime “ritual” by doing the same things every night for an hour or two before bedtime so your body knows when it is time to go to sleep. eg: reading, watching TV, shower etc
Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
Eat on a regular schedule and avoid a heavy meal prior to going to bed. Don’t skip meals
Avoid strenuous or invigorating activity before going to bed
Play soothing music that shuts off automatically after you are in bed
Take a warm bath or shower before going to bed
Place a drop of lavender oil on your pillow
Drink a cup of herbal chamomile tea before going to bed

5. Stress and Mental Health
Stress can happen for many reasons. Stress can be brought about by a traumatic accident, death or emergency situation. Stress can also be a side effect of a serious illness or disease.
There is also stress associated with daily life, the workplace, and family responsibilities. With all we have going on in our lives, it seems almost impossible to find ways to de-stress. But its important to find those ways. Your health depends on it!
Common symptoms of stress include:
Headache, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, short temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale, depression and anxiety.
Remember to always make time for you It’s important to care for yourself. Think of it as an order from your Doctor so you don’t feel guilty! No matter how busy you are, you can try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule to do something for yourself, like having a bath, going for a walk or calling a friend.
Psychological health affects physical health. We’ve been told for so long to get physical check ups, but taking care of our emotional well being has been overlooked.
We are whole people – whole in the sense that our minds and bodies are connected. We need to take care of both!
When we are doing the things that enable us to have good emotional health, we’re far more likely to maintain both the level of physical and emotional health we need.
Learning to talk about your problems and concerns is an important part of taking good care of yourself and maintaining good physical health. When you have good emotional health you’re able to experience feelings, share them appropriately and not be overwhelmed by them. That doesn’t mean you never be angry or sad. It means finding a balance and expressing your feelings appropriately.
Be joyful!

6. Definitions of Recovery
Recovery is the journey toward a new and valued sense of identity, role and purpose outside the parameters of mental illness; and living well despite any limitations resulting from the illness, its treatment, and personal and environmental conditions
Sharing responsibility for Recovery: creating and sustaining recovery oriented systems of care for mental health

7. Elements of Recovery Hope Meaning, purpose and direction
Equality and respect
Empowerment
Social Inclusion and connectedness
Sharing responsibility for recovery: creating and sustaining recovery oriented systems of care for mental health
Hope: is the foundation of Recovery
Meaning, purpose and direction: Recovery goes beyond self care and functioning. It is also the development of a more meaningful existence, and sense of purpose. This sense of purpose may be developed through work, relationships, political action or spirituality.
Equality and Respect: Workers need to shift their focus from the illness to the person and concentrate on strengths rather than weaknesses – mention internalised stigma
Empowerment: What is important is that people with a mental illness are recognised as a whole, self determining persons, able to make choices, take responsibility, live with the consequences and exert control over their own recovery process.
Social Inclusion: Recovery is an extremely social process that involves being with others and reconnecting with the world. To make social connections, social roles must be established. These may be through activities, relationships or occupation