MEMBER BENEFITS
Hints for Maintaining Your Mental Health
Eliminating the dichotomy allows you
• Accurately assess the state of your mental health and identify targets. Some of your habits may need to be eliminated, changed, or tweaked. Dedicate time and attention to them. • Remain alert to the state of your mental health, especially in volatile times. • Have frank conversations about your mental health with those close to you, and be prepared for the profound effect this can have. • Promote the removal of the stigma of mental illness in your personal and professional worlds. • Promote good mental health practices in the workplace. Staying alert to the state of your mental health is always important, but especially in volatile times. Honestly assessing where you're at and having frank conversations with those close to you can have a profound impact on ensuring that you stay healthy. Both personally and professionally, there are steps you can take to remove the stigma of mental illness and promote good mental health practices in the workplace. At APEGA, part of enriching the Member experience is in providing guidance, information, and benefits to help you lead fulfilling and healthy personal and professional lives. This article is one of many with practical, credible advice on maintaining your mental health. We encourage you to seek out others.
Mental health and mental illness are subjects people have a difficult time discussing, especially in the workplace. Ask any expert about the public’s understanding of these issues, and you’ll probably hear a refrain like this one: there’s a lot of work to be done. A public that’s educated about mental health and mental illness is one that’s: • comfortable talking about mental health and mental illness issues • able to identify potential problems before they emerge • aware of how to promote mentally healthy habits, both personally and professionally Here’s some of what Dr. Keith Zukiwski, an Alberta psychologist, has to say on the matter.
to be proactive when you assess your mental state.
HABITS OF THE MENTALLY HEALTHY
The first priority for those who seek to stay mentally healthy is to “honestly appraise their current state of health in terms of mental health and functioning,” says Dr. Zukiwski, who recently presented at an Edmonton Branch professional development evening. You should evaluate how you function in different areas of life, he says. Questions he asks his clients include: • are there any psychological symptoms or moods such as anxiety, anger, or sadness that cause discomfort or problems for you or others? • are there behaviours that cause problems for you or others? • are there symptoms, such as anxiety, that keep you from doing the things you want or achieving goals? • are you happy with your life in terms of relationships? Are any relationships failing or in need of attention? • what is your level of stress and what are the contributing factors? What do you worry about: work, relationships, finances, behaviour of your children, caring for seniors?
ELIMINATE STIGMA
The terms mental health and mental illness are used interchangeably, says Dr. Zukiwski. They shouldn’t be, because the dichotomy leads to confusion and stigma. Many people think they don’t need to act or get help unless they have an actual disorder. But mental health and mental ill- ness are not that discrete. Dr. Zukiwski explains it this way: “I think it is useful to understand mental health versus mental illness as a continuum and interaction of factors. Life. Satisfaction and happiness. A level of functioning socially, at work, and academically. Physiological stress. Mental discomfort or distress, addictions, and physical health.”
TACTICS AND APPROACHES
• Be honest with yourself. • Consistently examine your work life and your home life.
64 | PEG SPRING 2016
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