Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day.

Today, let us take a few minutes to pause from our daily routines or our busy schedules and take a closer look at ourselves. How do you feel right now? Are you happy with the way things are in your life?

Is there something that has been bothering you for sometime?

Is it difficult for you to concentrate lately?

Do you have trouble sleeping?

Does your work environment make you feel stressed out?

Are there people around you that you’d rather not see or deal with?

Do you feel that your professional and personal growth is stunted by factors that are beyond your control?

Do you feel that what you’re doing from day to day is not worthy?

If you answered yes to some of these questions, you may be experiencing a mental health issue.

Mental health concern is not as visible as a physical illness. Thus it is not given appropriate attention and solution. But it is equally important to everyone’s lives. Having an unaddressed mental health problem can affect all areas of a person’s life.

You should be able to answer yes to the following questions.

Are you really well? In body, mind, and emotion?

Is your heart at peace? Is your mind at ease?

Do you feel that you are in control of your life?

If not, you may be suffering a mental health episode. Take a break. Talk to a trusted friend. Spend more “me” time. Spend time with nature. Find time to do things that make you happy. Book an appointment with a mental health professional.

There are also helpful tips that you may check online, sources from World Health Organization, personal blogs, research articles, and even help lines. I am aware that mental health issues cannot be sufficiently addressed by just ticking a checklist of things to do. But it starts with self-awareness and the acceptance that you need help. The support and love of your friends and loved ones also play a vital role. In the community level, we need institutions that cater to mental health concerns. In the national level, we need laws and policies that address the issue and make seeking help for mental health problems easy and accessible. Not only that, people must have a safe home and work environment, stable job, quality education, rest and recreation, and freedom to live and express themselves.

The world has a long way to go before the stigma on mental health is removed. But let’s start from ourselves and our loved ones.

Everyone deserves a life free from worries and anxieties. Take care of your health. Protect your and your loved ones’ well-being.