Madison Meeks – Media Director 

mvm7037@psu.edu

Mental Health is extremely important in society. There are so many aspects of life that having positive mental health will help you to improve. It is important to know the possible signs of having a mental health problem as well.

Since the start of the pandemic, mental health issues have increased dramatically in not just adults but children as well. According to Medlineplus.gov, “mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life.” Positive mental health can help with coping with stress, having good relationships, and being physically healthy. It is important to be aware of the signs of declining mental health.

Signs of mental health disorders are important to be aware of. Medilineplus.gov states some examples of mental health disorders such as “Anxiety disorders including panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. Eating disorders. Personality disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.” 

It is important to know that there is not one single cause of mental health disorders but multiple factors that can influence the onset of mental health disorders. Examples of this include but are not limited to family history, experiences in life such as a history of abuse, or biological factors. Mental health disorders are common, as stated by Medlineplus.gov, “more than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health condition at some time in their lives.”

According to Medlineplus.gov, some signs of potential mental health conditions could be “a change in eating or sleeping habits, having little or no energy, feeling helpless or hopeless, feeling usually confused, scared, upset or worried, having unexpected aches and pains, hearing voices, or thinking about harming yourself or others.” If you think that you have a mental health disorder, please get help. Take advantage of the resources available to you such as on campus counseling, or ask your health care provider if you do not know where to start. Getting help for a mental health condition is extremely important because professionals can help people get the treatment that they need. 

Even if you do not have a diagnosed mental health disorder, there are ways to improve your mental health and care for yourself. Taking care of your physical health like getting exercise like walking or doing yoga, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy is a way to increase positive mental health. Staying connected with people or even doing meditation can help with increasing positive mental health. 

I believe that mental health is so important in today’s society, especially since the beginning of the pandemic. If you think that you might have a mental health disorder or know someone who might have a mental health disorder, please look into getting help. Getting help for a mental health condition is so important, and just talking to a professional might help. Behrend has a Personal Counseling Office with professional therapists located in Reed Union Building Room 1, which will relocate to Erie Hall in the spring semester. The Crisis helpline number is 814-456-2014.