What is World Health Day?

April 7th marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, this year celebrating its 75th anniversary. Each year, the organisation selects a different theme, chosen based on suggestions from its member governments and staff. This year's theme is Health for All , with a goal to break down barriers to health care and increase campaigns and awareness programmes, placing global health and its complexities into the spotlight.

The WHO's mission is to promote health while keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable. The organisation maintains that health is among our human rights. Their goal is to allow everyone to attain the highest level of health and well-being possible. Mental health and physical health are equally as important in one's overall health.

What does World Health Day celebrate?

This day serves as a time of reflection to look at the transformations in medicine as well as the successes that have improved the quality of life of many over the last 75 years. The day further acts to recognise and promote global physical, mental, and emotional well-being and health conditions. The WHO emphasises that World Health Day is "also opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today - and tomorrow".

Why is mental health important?

Among World Health Day's goals, mental health needs are equally as important as those of physical health. Mental health plays a pivotal role in all aspects of life – it affects how we think, feel, and act in response to life's different stimuli. It is further important because it allows us to cope with the stressors of life, maintain healthy relationships, be productive, keep physically healthy, and realise one's full potential.

What are ways to improve mental health?

Good mental health can make a person more equipped to deal with the many elements of daily life. Mental health further leads to positive outcomes for one's overall health. It can be influenced by a plethora of factors.

Can you improve mental health naturally?

Mental health promotion can also take form in many ways and can be manifested through different life activities, acting as protective factors against different mental disorders and mental health issues.

Practice gratitude: By actively being grateful for things in your life, you can start to see your life differently. Practising gratitude can lead to experiencing stressful situations with less negative affect, allowing time to notice moments filled with positive emotions amidst the negative ones. Positivity can act as a shield whereby the stressors and daily tasks of life can feel less daunting.

Get outside: Spending time outside can have large benefits on our mental health. Outdoor exposure can act among other things as a natural energy booster, increasing feelings of positivity, reducing feelings of stress, depression, and other mental health difficulties, as well as improving overall health and mental well-being.

Mental health treatment

Mental health is just as important as physical health to one's overall health condition. By taking time to improve our mental health conditions we evolve ourselves, allowing for the potential to achieve a greater state of well-being. Better mental health outcomes lead to a better quality of life, leading people to be able to sit back from time to time and enjoy life.

At The Kusnacht Practice, our team of experts are equipped to help with a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, and trauma. Treatments of Psychotherapeutic care, Medical treatment and care, Biomolecular Restoration, and Family systems therapy are also available. Get in touch if you or someone you know needs treatment for any mental health concerns.