How can we improve mental health?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 25th April 2022
We’re tired, we’re exhausted, and after two years of living through a pandemic, it’s no surprise that people from all walks of life are finally hitting breaking point. This is not only true for our patients, but also within the profession as well. Normality has returned in some forms – but the road to get there has been far from smooth.
Mental health has been thrown into the spotlight during the pandemic. While this is a very good thing as it opens the door to conversation and helps to rid the stigma of any discussion around the topic, it also indicates just how much of a problem mental health in modern society is.
Millions of people in the UK suffer from mental health conditions. Mind, an organisation dedicated to mental health research and understanding, estimates that around 1 in 4 people in the UK has a mental disorder of some kind.[i] However, if we consider the nature of mental illnesses and their often lack of any physical symptoms, we can safely assume this number is much higher.
People suffering may not be aware that they actually have a condition and believe that their thoughts are normal. Furthermore, the surviving stigma surrounding mental health (especially among men) means that plenty of people who have mental health conditions are unlikely to be seeking help, and therefore go unseen by any medical authorities.
As such, improving our mental health and discussing this with our patients should be a top priority. Here are some general tips on how to improve mental health:
Be open about your feelings
Whether this is just venting frustrations to friends/your partner or seeking help from a therapist or mentor, speaking about your feelings is a perfect way to prevent negative emotions bottling up and to find solutions to any problems. It’s a good idea to try to let these conversations happen naturally – building up to a conversation can be stressful in itself, so it’s better to try to guide conversation this way if you’re feeling anxious about broaching the topic.
Remember – it’s more than likely that whoever you have chosen to speak to has suffered or is currently experiencing some mental health problems too! You’re never alone.
Keep moving
Although exercising is a daunting prospect for a lot of us, research has proven that regular exercise has a positive impact on our mental health.[ii] This doesn’t have to be playing a sport or dedicating hours to the gym either, and just keeping active by walking daily, cycling to work or making sure to keep moving during the day will all have a positive effect. As dental hygienists and dental therapists will likely spend a fair amount of the day moving about at work anyway, it’s good to supplement this with quick walks at lunchtime and other gentle exercise – anything it takes to reach the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.[iii]
Eat and drink well
With busy work schedules, eating properly in the modern age can be easier said than done. However, our brains need a complex mix of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to stay healthy and in proper working order, so eating healthily can certainly improve our mental health over time.
It’s also a good idea to avoid depressant substances such as alcohol where possible – stick within the recommended 14 units a week and avoid drugs that cause highs and a resulting low – substance abuse is never a solution to problems in the long term.[iv]
Support is near
If you are ever worried about your own mental health, there are plenty of resources to turn to. Today mental health advice and support is more accessible than ever, and you can contact the NHS, explore online counselling opportunities and more.
For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk
call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk
[i] Mind. Mental health Facts and Statistics. Link: https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/2958/statistics-facts-2017.pdf [Last accessed February 22].
[ii] Sharma, A. et al. Exercise for Mental Health. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2006; 8(2): 106.
[iii] Mind. How To Look After Your mental Health Using Exercise. Link: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-using-exercise [Last accessed February 22].
[iv] Mind. Drink Sensibly. Link: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/looking-after-your-mental-health/drink-sensibly [Last accessed February 22].
diane
