Mental Health

1. Mental
Hygiene &
Mental Health
Dr. Anamika Rai
Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Psychology
Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, University of Delhi

2. •
* Mental Hygiene, mental health, mental health-care -
Are these concepts same?
** Is there any specific age where people do not face
stress or challenges?
*** Is there any straight jacket formula for happy life
applicable to all?

3. Refers to all the activities and techniques, which
encourage and maintain mental health
Mental hygiene
A psychological state, which is subject to fluctuations due
to biological and social factors
Mental health
(WHO, MHD, 1950, 2005)

4. Mental Health Continuum
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Illness-health-wellness-continuum-1_fig1_325058317
– Mental wellness – manageable stress – Acute stress, anger, anxiety, depression - mental illness (require help of mental
health practitioners, counsellor). That is why these MH and MHy terms have been widely used in clinical and counselling
practices to deal with mental illness and disorders.

5. Positive
mental
health
Conceptualized as a positive emotion (affect), such as feelings of
happiness; as a personality trait inclusive of the psychological
resources of self-esteem and mastery; and as resilience, which is the
capacity to cope with adversity.
(WHO, MHD, 2005)
Hope, optimism, resilience, quality of life, satisfaction, strong social support, healthy
inter-personal relationship can help to in developing happy and healthy life.

6. – Fearful perception of situation
(real - COVID19) or irrational fear out of emotional reaction towards situation)
– Fear of unknown
(fear of not known, uncontrolled, unpredictable, uncertain, future)
– Attitude, belief and perception
(Positive-Negative attitude, Judgmental attitude, beliefs - assumptions, Faulty perception
and interpretation of situation)
– Over expectations from others
(Misfit between available resources and demands, high unrealistic goals & targets rather
baby steps)
– Painful experiences, Lack of conscious awareness
(Living life in past or future, missing out present moments)
– Difficulty accepting change
(Lack of adjustment with present situation)
**
Why Stress?

7. Normal everyday routine life is effected
Physical Distancing – No outgoing activities (Other than the important ones)
Lack of social gathering
Experience of isolation
Home work + Work from home
Change in virtual life
Redefining interpersonal concepts – offline and online communications
Time management
Information overload
Virtual classes
Body clock, digestion and sleep
COVID-19
situation

8. H. Selye, introduced the idea that the stress response could result in positive
or negative outcomes based on cognitive interpretations (The Stress
Concept: Past, Present and Future (1983).
– Daily Hassles
– Workload
– Work pressure
– Over demand
– Over expectation
– Judgemental Behaviour
– Controlling everything
– Best and perfectionist approach – high standards and demands from
oneself
Stress –
response
model - Hans
Selye (1956)

9. - Practise protective measures (COVID19)
– Keep connected with near and dear ones – virtually
– Be in touch with your friends
– Open Communications your
– Try clearing junk-box of your mind – accept, forgive and move forward
– Realistic demands and expectations from oneself
– Time management for work from home and home work balance
– Taking responsibility of ones own behaviour – for improving rather playing blame game
– Finding creative corners – spending quality time with oneself and family members
– Make sure to feed mind with positive thoughts and perspectives
Ways of
dealing with
stress

10. – Your attitude can change the situation
– Upgradation of beliefs and perceptions for better cognitive interpretations
– Celebrate even small achievements
– Your Mind is listening everything – Make sure
– Count your blessing – feel grateful – show gratitude
– If you cant go out go inside – sit and spend some time with yourself – listen to
your inner voice.
Ways of
dealing with
stress

11. Healthy mind and body is a key
to happiness