What is mental health in easy words?

Mental health can be defined as freedom from mental illness. It can also be considered well-being or life satisfaction. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Throughout your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.

What is included in mental health?

It’s probably fair to say that “mental health” has become a buzzword as much as the term “self-care.” But let’s break down what mental health is and what it consists of — because it affects a lot.

In general, mental health refers to your overall psychological well-being and the state of your emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. Mental health touches many parts of our lives, from our relationships with others to what makes us feel fulfilled and how we deal with life’s challenges.

Our mental health can be affected by factors like:

• Your self-esteem and self-worth.
• The way you socialize with others.
• The way you find meaning and value in your life.
• Your psychological functioning as it’s tied to memory and problem-solving.
• Your physical well-being.
• Whether or not you have a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression.

What are mental health services?

Mental health services provide health care interventions and other support services for people with mental illness across a range of settings and service types. There are a range of funding sources including government, private health insurance, and individual contributions. Organisations delivering mental health services may be public, private for-profit, or not-for-profit.

Broadly, mental health services can be categorized as specialized services and general services. Specialized services include care provided in specialized psychiatric units in hospitals (by staff with specialized qualifications in mental health) and general services include care provided by general practitioners.

Why are mental health services important?

Often, the symptoms of mental health can be “invisible” to the world around you — or even to yourself. So, it’s important to acknowledge when you’re feeling your mental health taking a hit.

Here are some of the benefits of taking care of your mental health:

It affects your brain and cognitive functioning:

Have you ever noticed that when you’re in an anxious or depressed mood, you can’t seem to think clearly? Well, just like poor physical health can affect internal organs like your heart and gut, poor mental health can affect the way your brain works.

Our mental health impacts our cognitive processes such as perception, thinking, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. It involves having clear thoughts, the ability to concentrate and make decisions, and the capacity to learn and adapt to new information and experiences.

It affects the rest of your physical health:

It’s easy to think of mental health as separate from physical health, but your brain is part of your body. Mental illness is the root cause of many physical symptoms.

“For example, if you’re experiencing sleep disturbances, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, gastric issues, muscle aches, heart palpitations, or racing heart, your doctor will want to rule out depression, anxiety or other mental conditions as a potential cause,” explains Mental Health Therapist at I Got U Corp.

To highlight the importance of this connection, the American Heart Association released a statement in recent years recommending that depression be considered a risk factor for poor outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

It can help you build resilience:

Mental health can play a big part in how we react to tough times — and this is where building resilience comes in. When you’re resilient, you’re better equipped to handle challenges, setbacks, and life transitions, while maintaining a sense of balance and well-being.

It can impact your relationships:

Mental health is a big part of how we socialize and react to others around us. Having good mental health can help you develop positive and meaningful relationships with others. This ties in with how we communicate and talk with others, how we establish and maintain healthy boundaries, and how we empathize with others.

It can help you maintain a positive self-image:

Sure, we get down on ourselves every once in a while. But the way we generally view ourselves is a big factor in our mental health — specifically, our self-esteem and self-worth. Having good mental health can help you recognize your strengths and limitations while having confidence in your abilities and the ability to maintain a healthy level of self-esteem.

It can impact your overall well-being:

We all have a lot of feelings, and learning how to manage them is a large part of mental health. This means finding the balance of sharing and acknowledging your emotions while not letting them take over your life. This can encompass things like managing stress, coping with difficult situations, and maintaining a positive outlook when times are tough.

Understanding Online Therapy California:

Online therapy, or e-therapy or teletherapy, offers virtual access to mental health treatment. In California, it allows you to connect with licensed professionals, including psychologists and psychiatrists, through an online platform. Sessions typically incorporate talk therapy, a widely used approach in mental health care, and innovative tools and applications.

The history of online therapy dates back to the mid-1990s when technology and mental health intersected to create a more accessible, affordable form of care. Through advances in communication and digital technology, online therapy has grown in popularity and become more widely accepted due to its convenience and flexibility.

The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the rise of online therapy, as many traditional mental health services were suspended or reorganized into virtual platforms. This shift created a greater demand for virtual care options, allowing people with limited reach to mental health treatment to seek help from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

Online therapy can take many forms, including the following:

Text-based therapy: Text-based therapy typically involves exchanging messages with a mental health professional through an online platform. This type of therapy can be conducted asynchronously, meaning that the conversation doesn’t happen in real-time or synchronously, which is when both parties exchange messages simultaneously.

Video therapy: Video therapy is a form of online therapy that uses video conferencing technology to connect with your therapist. This type of therapy allows you to have face-to-face conversations with your mental health professional, giving it more of an in-person feel.

Phone therapy: Phone therapy involves talking to a mental health professional over the phone, either through voice or video calls. This type of Online Therapy in California may also be used as a supplement to other forms of online therapy, such as text-based or video sessions.

Different platforms offer different levels of support and service, so it’s essential to understand your needs and preferences before selecting an online therapy provider. Then, by researching and selecting the right provider for you, you can maximize the potential of Online Therapy California and achieve more beneficial outcomes.

Advantages of online therapy in California:

Life can be tough, and sometimes mental health complexities can seem like an uphill climb. With our busy schedules and numerous commitments, finding time to attend in-person therapy sessions can be challenging. That’s where online therapy comes in.

Online therapy has risen in popularity in recent years, with numerous advantages that cater to the needs of a growing, diverse population. Here are some of the benefits of online therapy:

Accessibility and Convenience:

One of the most significant advantages of online therapy is its unparalleled accessibility. Gone are the days when geographical limitations or mobility constraints could hinder access to mental health care.

With a stable internet connection and a device like a smartphone, tablet, or computer, you can connect with a trained therapist from the comfort of your home or any other convenient location. This increased accessibility is particularly beneficial for individuals living in remote areas or those with physical disabilities, making mental health care more inclusive and attainable.

Anonymity and Personal:

Online Therapy California provides a sense of anonymity that can be comforting for many seeking mental health support. Engaging in therapy from a familiar and personal space can alleviate feelings of vulnerability or self-consciousness that may arise during in-person sessions.

Cost-Effectiveness:

In-person therapy sessions can be expensive, often posing financial barriers to those seeking help. Conversely, online therapy typically offers more cost-effective options, making mental health care accessible to a wider audience.

Without the overhead costs associated with maintaining a physical office, therapists can pass on the savings to their clients. Furthermore, many online therapy platforms offer subscription-based models or sliding scale fees, allowing you to choose a plan that aligns with your budget and needs.

Flexibility in scheduling:

Our fast-paced lives can make it challenging to carve out time for therapy sessions during conventional office hours. Online Therapy California offers the flexibility of scheduling appointments at times that work best for you, including evenings and weekends. This adaptability allows you to prioritize your mental health without disrupting your daily routine, making it easier to commit to regular sessions and maintain consistency in your mental health journey.

Overall, online therapy presents an array of advantages that cater to the diverse needs of individuals seeking mental health support. However, for various reasons, some individuals may not respond well to online therapy. For example, those who require more intensive support or those who do not have a reliable internet connection may not find it suitable.