All information provided has been accurately sourced from several branches of our NHS websites. All links are provided chronologically at the bottom of this article. Disclaimer: I am neither a wizard nor a health care professional.

How do you define the term ‘mental health’?

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. We all have mental health. Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also impacts on how we cope, interact and form relationships with others, as well as our daily functioning.

Our mental health can vary and be dependent on a number of factors which may include;

• The number of demands and stressors we have
• Our physical health
• Significant life events
• How much sleep we get
• Relationships with other people
• Our diet/ nutritional intake
• Environmental, societal and cultural factors
• How much we engage in leisure activities, hobbies and interests

Every reader now has a basic understanding of what our mental health entails, as well as, the potential factors that contribute towards it.

To live our perfect life then, I assume we need to live a life as stress free as possible and limit any factors that demand too much of our attention. To me right now, that means, NO KIDS! What is your situation? There are certain demands and stressors in your life that can not be altered. However, you can adapt, you can seek help. Firstly, you have your family, secondly your friends, followed by your wider community and lastly the state. The state will help you but unfortunately you may have to kick a few doors down to have your demands met. How much help do you need? Our elected officials and health care professionals are duty bound to serve you just as long as you’re helping yourself too!

To live our perfect life then, we need to be physically healthy! How does one define physical health? Physical health should be at least keeping up with the NHS recommendation of exercise per week.

Adults aged 19-64 should aim to:

• do strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) on at least 2 days a week
• do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week
• spread exercise evenly over 4 to 5 days a week, or every day
• reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity

To live our perfect life then, we need to sleep appropriately! This is all dependent on your life and balance. I need 8 hours, no more, no less. I have based this on factors in my personal life. How many hours do you work? How busy/active are you? Keep a routine and it is recommended that you should be having 7-9 hours each night. Do you feel tired a lot? Keep a sleep diary.

To live our perfect life then, we need to manage our relationships with other people. Don’t feel obliged to be biblical and love thy neighbour or what not. You don’t have to get on with everybody. Just find a couple of people who share your interests and take them with you. Those that don’t wish to come with you? Let them live.

To live our perfect life we need a highly nutritious, balanced diet! This is crucial, our energy comes from our sleep and our food. Eat anything you desire first thing in the morning, for me a banana is perfection, hopefully for you it is not a ‘Dairy Milk’ but ensure you eat! ‘BREAK-FAST’. Breakfast, breaking you fast after your period of sleep (fast). Do you know how many calories you should consume per day? You don’t have to stress about it, but what could be more important than your happiness and health. Check out if you’re at a healthy weight (B.M.I), right now, for your; age group, height & gender by simply pressing the link directly below. It is also at the bottom of this article.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

To live our perfect life we must live in a positive, environment, society and find out our own definition of culture. What does that mean to you? I need my immediate living space to be clean, ordered, fresh air and a steady temperature. Sometimes, maybe some people, but no annoying ones and certainly not too many!!! External environment & society? I will always adapt, or move on, or have a little moan. Just embrace and try to smile. Culture has different meanings to each individual. Culture for me right now is being inspired by positive people, surroundings and certainly being near direct sunlight. I love listening to phonemaly gifted artists along fantastically scribed lyrical greatness. Finally, my culture is knowing what I want right now, in this moment. None of us are promised tomorrow…

For you, your family, your colleagues and your environment, find out what you want right now for your present and your future. Steer your wheel in that direction. It can be left, right or forwards. Just don’t reverse, the past is the past.

Enjoy leisure, enjoy living, have hobbies/interest. Just get the right balance and don’t forget this is a journey and none of us get out alive…..

If you are practicing the points mentioned above in a balanced/controlled manner, and are not seeing any improvement in your mental health. Unfortunately I am afraid that you may have a prognosis of ‘being f*ck*d’!! Seek help.

To the future, keep well

Mental Health and Mental illness

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-guidelines/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/#:~:text=do%20at%20least%20150%20minutes,a%20week%2C%20or%20every%20day

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/#:~:text=adults%20need%207%20to%209,need%2012%20to%2017%20hours

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

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