May is National Mental Health Month

May is National Mental Health Month

Mental health affects everyone, regardless of whether or not you have a mental illness. By developing healthy habits, you can boost mental health and increase your resiliency to mental illness, enabling you to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. To promote wellness during Mental Health Month, Mental Health America – the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives developed the following tips for managing everyday stress:

• Set Manageable Goals: The more control you have over work, the less stress you’ll feel.
• Live a Healthy Lifestyle: Limit caffeine and alcohol, get enough rest, exercise and balance work and play.
• Spend Time with Others: Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while or call a friend or relative to join you in everyday activities.
• Take a Time Out: Taking time to unwind can decrease your stress levels and improve your health and relationships.
• Ask for Help. Allow friends and family to assist with housework, child-care or any activities you find stressful. To learn more ways to promote wellness in your and your loved ones during Mental Health Month visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net

Here is the three-year chart for ROK. Well, this is more stock health than mental health. Hm, that connection is a stretch, but at least the stock is not at an all-time low.



Getting back to the topic of mental health

Merriam-Webster defines mental health as "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined. In general, most experts agree that "mental health" and "mental illness" are not opposites. In other words, the absence of a recognized mental disorder is not necessarily an indicator of mental health.

One way to think about mental health is by looking at how effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling capable and competent; being able to handle normal levels of stress, maintaining satisfying relationships, and leading an independent life; and being able to "bounce back," or recover from difficult situations, are all signs of mental health.