Some preconceived ideas about…mental health.
Source : BNP Paribas Cardif validated by Rouen University Hospital
What are these ideas?
- It’s a very abstract concept that doesn’t concern me.
- Mental health is only for people who have a particular problem or condition.
- Worrying about your mental health or experiencing mental health problems is a sign of weakness.
- There is no link between mental health and obesity.
- It is often said that “we are what we eat”.
- Mental health problems mainly concern teenagers, who are very prone to mood swings.
- Nothing can be done to prevent mental health disorders.
It’s a very abstract concept that doesn’t concern me.
Have you ever felt sadness or frustration with those around you? Has your work or school ever been a source of stress? Do you sometimes have trouble falling asleep at night? Have you ever felt helpless or angry about the news of our contemporary world? All of these elements are related to your mental health, and we all deal with them, even if it’s sometimes more abstract to understand than a physical problem.
Mental health is only for people who have a particular problem or condition.
Mental health is as important as physical health: just as you don’t wait until you’re sick to take care of your body (by following a balanced diet, practicing regular physical activity, etc.), you can worry about your mental health on a daily basis.
Worrying about your mental health or experiencing mental health problems is a sign of weakness.
On the contrary: it takes a lot of courage to face a problem of this kind, and to agree to ask for help. Worrying about your mental health is a sign of strength, and a gesture that you do for yourself.
There is no link between mental health and obesity.
Studies have proven that anxiety and depression can play a role in changing eating behavior, and therefore potentially towards obesity. Certain emotional profiles are also more affected by eating disorders. It’s a vicious circle, because a person who is overweight or suffers from eating disorders will also be more prone to stress and anxiety.
It is often said that “we are what we eat”.
This phrase has often been attributed to Hippocrates, a Greek scholar of the 5th century BC who is considered the “father of modern medicine”. It is also the title of a book written by Jane Goodall, a famous ethnologist and anthropologist (the French version of the book was published in 2008 by Actes Sud), which looks back at the major dietary changes related to industrialization. The maxim also applies to our mental health. Our contemporary diet, often too rich in fat, sugar, salt and ultra-processed foods that contain a lot of them, influences our body, and therefore our psychological activity. While anxiety and depression can cause dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, overconsumption of ultra-processed products can cause an increased risk of depression and an alteration of the gut microbiota. Here again, it’s a vicious circle…
Mental health problems mainly concern teenagers, who are very prone to mood swings.
While adolescence is a complicated time when individuals may need support with changes in both body and mind, mental health is also relevant to young children and adults. Separation anxiety, discovering school, complicated relationships with parents or friends can be a source of stress for the little ones. Work, mental load, everyday and family complications can also influence parents and other adults.
Nothing can be done to prevent mental health disorders.
Just like physical health, the individual will be better equipped to deal with possible problems by following a few basics: a balanced diet, a regular sleep pattern, frequent physical activity. You can also count on the kindness of those around you: support and dialogue with friends, family, and of course a health professional if you feel the need.