Welcome to Matters of the Mind! Thank you for subscribing to what I can best describe as researched reflections. In this weekly blog, we’ll explore the many ways mental health (and illness) shape our daily lives. From seasonal changes to advancements in technology, from the impact of war to everyday exposure to violence, we’ll linger on the issues that influence our well-being. We will also engage in discussions and debates, giving space to diverse perspectives on the mind. And, perhaps most importantly, we’ll learn how to cultivate healthy coping skills while working to unlearn maladaptive ones.
In some articles, you may also find specific discussions and tips on matters that do not concern your mind; read through anyway. The more we know, the more we can become equipped for responding in situations where others might be struggling.
This week, let’s begin with a fundamental question: Why does mental health matter?
In recent decades, conversations about mental well-being have surged, bringing an influx of perspectives on everything from EMDR for post-traumatic stress to acupuncture for depression to yoga for anxiety. It’s encouraging to see more funding, research, and attention devoted to this evolving field. But with so much information at our fingertips, it’s worth stepping back to reflect: Why do we care about mental health in the first place?
Say it with me: just because it’s in your head doesn’t mean its not real.
Okay, Dumbledore said that (millennial spotted). But he had a point. Perhaps the first step to understanding why mental health matters is recognizing it as a function of the brain. Mental wellness—and illness—reflect the health of this vital organ, just as physical conditions indicate the state of our other organs. When stones form in the kidneys, surgery may be necessary. When the heart beats too fast or too slow, it may need a pacemaker. And when the brain struggles to cope, it too requires care and intervention.
Of course, mental illness is not as simple to see or ‘detect’ as arrhythmia or kidney stones are, and so is often neglected. One of the reasons, therefore, why awareness about mental health is important is so we become attuned to the signs that our brain sends us to let us know whether it is doing well. And in the case that it isn’t, knowing more about our brain and mind (we talk about the difference between the two soon) can help us navigate the path to wellness.
Self-discovery
It is only wise to invest time and energy in understanding ourselves. Self-awareness allows us to make more informed decisions about our lives, navigate challenges with greater clarity, and cultivate a deeper connection to who we truly are. In doing so, we strengthen our sense of Self—the core of our identity and the foundation of our well-being.
Community
Living a healthy life allows us to be productive, compassionate, and secure members of our communities, whether that’s our family, neighborhood, place of worship, or even an online group of Lord of the Rings fans. When individuals are well-integrated, they help shape healthier norms and challenge traditions that no longer serve the community.
Mind-body connection
Something beautiful happens when we begin to focus on our mental health: it makes us more aware of our physical health as well. This is because of the mind-body connection; when one is triggered, the other is impacted as well. For those of us who are concerned with the health of our heart, skin, teeth, spine, gut — do we really think we can ignore the effect of our mental health on our body?
Food for thought: after all that has been said about mental health, do we really need to separate physical and mental health under exclusive labels? I, for one, would like to create a world where we can say health, and know that it encompasses the health of every organ, the brain included.
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