Mental health is one of the most important factors that need to be noticed early in everybody’s life. It is a state where people cannot control themselves based on their pressure levels or might be lonely. People these days often take precautions from psychiatrists to upgrade these mental issues that they’re going through. According to researchers, mental health stands first in making a person stand up straight. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. All these together make us perfect and proper humans, says noted Business Astrologer cum Astro Strategist Hirav Shah.

Hirav Shah says, “Health-care professionals and older people themselves intensely identify mental health problems and the stigma surrounding these conditions makes people reluctant to seek help.

Risk factors for mental health problems among older adults:
Depression- The main and major loss that needs to be monitored closely. Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa. For example, older adults with physical health conditions such as heart disease have higher rates of depression than those who are healthy. Additionally, untreated depression in an older person with heart disease can negatively affect its outcome.

Elderly people are also vulnerable to elder abuse – including physical, verbal, psychological, financial abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious losses of dignity and respect. Current evidence suggests that 5 out of 25 older people experience elder abuse. In addition, elder abuse can lead to physical injuries and serious, sometimes long-lasting psychological consequences, including depression and anxiety.

Improving Mental Health

According to Hirav Shah, these were the factors that can be helpful to elders or older adults to improve their health care.

Eat Well

A very efficient and proper intake of foods helps in the proper growth of elders in order to keep them fit and healthy. This is one of the best ways to keep them active all the time. Healthy whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, pulses are the way to go. With healthier foods, the food is absorbed slowly, and thus there are no mood swings.

Good Sleep

Sleep is the major concerned element that can provide all beneficial things to the human body. Sleep releases many hormones in our body that make the right change for us. As with age, we become lighter sleepers; we need a longer sleep duration to get adequate rest. In addition, sleep improves concentration, memory formation and restores any cell damage, overall refreshing the body’s immune system.

Extra activities

A well-known and loving activity such as writing, reading, cycling, playing, singing, etc., might help keep the person young from the inside. With time on our hands as we age, identifying such activities and making an effort to engage in them can turn our day of loneliness into a day of enjoyment.

Exercise Regularly

Stay fit and staying healthy is the base that might help in staying perfect. Exercise is known to improve mood and emotional well-being. It thereby prevents mental health issues. The double bonus is that it improved your overall physical health as well.

Maintain proper relationship

Stay together: Stay in touch is the anthem that should be maintained once you turn old. Good relationships are the backbone of good mental health. It is often considered the most important contributor to happiness and well-being. Be it family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors, our relationships provide us with a support system that helps us cope with stressors and provides support in times of need for intervention. In addition, sharing our feelings with others is a proven method of de-stressing.

Include spirituality

Stay in touch with God; he stays in touch with you. The first and foremost impression that we Indians possess on the term is known as spirituality. Being involved in spiritual or religious practices has been linked with improved well-being for many people.

Get a pet

Care for a pet, and it cares for you more than you can do to yourself. Getting a pet involves caring for it, enjoying and relaxing with it. Even you might get new friends when you take it out on a walk in the evenings; along with that, walking helps you stay fit and active as much as you can. They are also likely to improve satisfaction and well-being.

Give to others

Give and take is a general policy and a form of kindness that helps you grow and stay happy at heart, even for small things that you usually used to. Performing small acts of kindness can give us a feeling of happiness and self-worth. It helps cancel out negative feelings about ourselves and leads to a feeling of contentment. You can engage yourself in the community, donate to a cause you believe in, or volunteer at an NGO. It will not only be a service to society but will also be a rewarding engagement.

Convert into a technophile & stay in touch

Be a part of technology and get closer to your people who stay away from you. Sending emails, messages, photos to friends and family can be a regular part of an elderly routine. Staying in touch on social media sites such as Whatsapp & Instagram can also prevent social isolation for the elderly, especially when their children live far, or in a different country.

Take care of health

Health is considered an important factor; health is wealth. The entire struggle we face is just because of it. Our mental and physical health are related, and maintaining physical health is significant in our attempt to maintain mental health. Making healthier life choices, taking time for exercise, and regular doctor’s visits can help achieve this goal. It is never too late to take control of your health.

Final Word

Simple ways can boost many things, it can be a bare foot walk on the grass or a hike in the woods. Research shows that being in the outdoors can increase energy levels, reduce depression and boost well-being.

Use the basics. The human body has a mechanism within. Simple smiling or playing with kids can help to lower your heart rate and simmer you down. The human body has intelligence within to calm down, to energize, to move us into action…

Always resort to things the natural way. Better to stay away from energy drinks or too much caffeine. All it needs is a bit of effort, a bit of discipline and a bit of consistency- Concludes Hirav Shah, Prolific Business Transformation Leader.