Strong mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental health refers to the presence of positive characteristics such as

• The ability to deal with stress and bounce from challenging situations
• A balance between work and play, rest and activities
• A sense of contentment and a zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun.
• The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships
• Self-confidence and self-esteem

How To Boost Your Mental Health

Anyone can suffer from mental or emotional health problems—and over a lifetime, most of us will. Here are practices you can adopt to elevate your mood, become more resilient, and enjoy life more. But just as it requires effort to build and maintain physical health, so it is with mental health. You have to work harder these days to ensure strong mental health, simply because there are so many ways that life takes a toll on our emotional well-being.

1. Stay active: Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy, and is also a significant benefit towards improving your mental health. Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym. Walks in the park, gardening or housework can also keep you active.
    
2. Learn how to do with stress: Like it or not, stress is a part of life. Face-to-face social interaction with someone who cares about you is the most effective way to calm your nervous system and relieve stress Also, remember to smile and see the humor in life. Research shows that laughter can boost your immune system, ease pain, relax your body and reduce stress.
    
3. Make Leisure time a priority: Give yourself some “me” Partake in your favorite activities for no reason other than that they make you feel good. Go to a funny movie, take a walk on the beach, listen to music, read a good book, or talk to a friend. Doing things just because they are fun is no indulgence. Play is an emotional and mental health necessity.
    
4. Do something for someone else: Research shows that being helpful to others has a beneficial effect on how you feel about yourself. Purpose derived from helping others or the community can enrich and expand your life and make you happier. There’s no limit to the individual and group volunteer opportunities you can explore.
    
5. Get Help when you need it: Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And it is important to remember that treatment is effective. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and addiction and lead full, rewarding lives.