The Basics of Enhancing Mental Health

A Person Can Learn to Preserve and Enhance Their Emotional Health

Many experts agree that instead of spending so much time and effort on the treatment of mental illness, it would be better to concentrate on providing for normal emotional development. Specialists say that creating conditions that promote healthy living will create this normal emotional development. If course not all of these conditions are known or completely understood, but with the help of advanced science we have clues.

One important condition is having useful work. People who are absorbed in useful work that they enjoy and are compensated for keeps them in touch with reality. Useful work gives people a feeling of satisfaction and enhances their self-esteem. Going back in history to the depression of the early 1930's, we can see the demoralizing effects of unemployment and idleness. Without work, a person tends to disintegrate. Other activities besides work are also very beneficial to a person's mental health. Volunteer work, hobbies such as gardening and crafts, and community activities are all examples of things people can do to improve and enhance their mental and emotional health, even though they're not remunerative.

Another condition that will preserve and enhance a person's mental health is social participation. Since human beings are social animals, we suffer emotionally when isolated from others. Just think of the "solitary confinement" policies in prisons. Community and social activities should be a part of one's life.

Modern living can produce loneliness for many people. Apartment dwellers seldom know their own neighbors down the hall. Many families or single people move a great deal whereby losing touch with family and friends. People of all ages must find ways to participate in enjoyable social events.