There are many people who are used to booking physical exams instead, when in reality, mental examinations are just as important to the doctors. The annual GP visit is very common for things like eye tests, dental cleaning or even just an overall check-up of an existing health condition. Many of us think it’s important to keep our bodies in check, but it is just as important for our mental health to be checked on.
Mental health should be treated with the same care as a physical check-up. Acting on mental health before it spirals out of control is essential for your physical health as well.
The Importance of Mental Health Check-Ups
It is important to note that a mental health checkup isn’t just for diagnosis or being labelled. It is also essential to check how you are coping with your mental and social emotions. A mental health professional will assess your overall mental state, including a check on your stress level and overall resilience. This check-up would be similar to a doctor who would check your heart rate and blood pressure.
These checkups are not too excessive either. It can be just a short questionnaire on your sleep schedule, motivation, anxiety and even your concentration at work. Not to mention questions about how you feel with the average daily pressure of your life and how you deal with it. Sometimes, if there are any issues, they are spotted too late, but with a mental health checkup. If you do identify any issues within your checklist, you will reduce the chances of it spiralling out of control.
Why Prevention Is Important for Mental Health
There have been enough studies now that have confirmed that when we identify the early symptoms of mental health, when it is dealt with earlier, the outcomes would be much better. This could be anything, as little as stress or mild anxiety. Both of these can easily become something much bigger and affect your life a lot more. This is why regular checkups are important when it comes to discussing our emotions and how we are feeling. In the checkups, triggers will be identified, and the right coping mechanisms can also be applied to help deal with them.
Something that a lot of people ignore is the fact that mental well-being can also have a negative impact on physical health. This can be anything from developing eating disorders, insomnia, alcoholism and much more. Furthermore, chronic stress can lead to a weaker immune system, heart issues, digestive problems and even inflammation in the body. As long as we keep our mental health in check, we can reduce issues with our physical health.
Don’t Follow The Stigma
As we all know, there is a massive stigma surrounding mental health. A lot of people, especially men, don’t want to discuss their mental health problems, which only causes more harm. The reason is that people believe that they are fearing judgment and misunderstanding. That is not the case, and speaking about mental health actually normalises it amongst others and encourages other people with mental health issues to do the same.
If you think you are suffering from mental health issues, then don’t be afraid to speak up to someone at work or at school. These environments should have people available to help you speak about your mental health issues, no matter how severe they are.
What Is Included With a Mental Health Check Up?
A mental health checkup can include a screening or a questionnaire to gauge the anxiety, depression and stress levels. On top of this, you will also discuss with the mental health practitioner about your current lifestyle. This doesn’t just include your physical activity, but it also includes your overall sleep quality, work-life balance, and relationships. Finally, you will also discuss your current coping mechanisms and may be provided with us to help deal with your mental health issues. This could be anything from referral to therapy, support groups and even stress management programmes.
Remember, this discussion is not for you to be clinically diagnosed. This should just be a discussion to help point you in the right direction and to help you identify your triggers.
To Conclude
As discussed, there is a massive stigma with mental health, and it is something that needs to be wiped out from society. Mental health is very important, and it can have a massive impact on our lives if it isn’t being taken care of. There are many ways to ensure your mental health is in check, but if you think you are ever struggling, you should speak to a specialist about it.
There are many things that can cause mental health issues, such as a poor medical experience. This can cause several problems such as anxiety, depression or even trauma, which could lead you to missing work. If this ever is the case, then it would be wise to speak to a medical malpractice solicitor to help deal with the situation.