There is a many of misinterpretation and misapply regarding the concept of mental fitness. Even many professionals and competent think that it refers simply to severe mental disorders only. In reality, mental health is a wide concept and in some way or other concerns everyone in the society.

Good mental fitness is more than the absence of mental illness. It can be seen as a state of psychological health that allows one to prosper and fully happy life. Another common misunderstanding is that psychological health cannot be promoted and that mental disorders are incurable cannot be prevented. Furthermore, issues related to psychological health carry a strong stigma, while negative frame of mind is still common.

Mental health has been defined in many ways. We can take as the starting point the well-known definition of health by the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1948: ‘Health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’[1] Psychological health can also be seen as a process that comprises predisposing factors (e.g. childhood experiences), actual precipitating factors (e.g. social network) as well as various consequences and outcomes (e.g. health behavior). [2]

It has two sides:

1. Positive psychological fitness can be visualized as a value in itself or as a capacity to recognize, understand and illuminate the surroundings, to adapt to them and to change them if necessary; to think and to communicate with each other;
2. Negative psychological fitness is concerned with mental disorders, symptoms and problems.

Positive psychological fitness includes:

• Well-being by positive sense
• Including self-esteem, individual resources optimism and a sense of mastery.
• The ability to develop and initiate.
• Sustain mutually satisfying personal relationships.
• The ability to overcome with resilience.
• Controlling stress.

These will enhance the person’s ability to contribute to family and society. In other words building happiness for oneself and others. Teachers have a lot of responsibilities: Helping student’s overall progress. Taking leadership roles and creating safe class room surroundings. Nothing is as important in a teacher’s work as promoting the mental health of the students. Students who are mentally healthy and more motivated, self-aware and able to participate in a classroom activity. Students facing mental issues supported from teachers who are supportive and aware of the issues they are facing. Let’s learn how you as a teacher can be stimulate your student’s mental health or well-being.

Understanding the Mental Health (Psychodynamics)

One of the most important ways that teachers can promote student’s mental fitness is via psychodynamics. This concept refers to a continuous process of attempting to understand another person’s circumstances. As a teacher, you can dedicate some time each day thinking about what your students are thinking and feeling. Keep in mind that every individual is different, so you will have to know and understand your students and consider the ways they change over time in order to do an effective job to understand the mental state.

As you obtain mentalization, your students will gain the feeling of secure taking risks and asking questions, as well as reaching out when they are struggling with something. Further, you and your students will all benefit from the wonderful sense of closeness that can come from understanding each other views.

Clear cut Decisive Instruction

Teachers can also work to help their students somewhat more accurately with psychological health. It can help to teach students particular strategies for taking care of themselves, as well as how to handle stressful situations. For instance, they can teach their students to:

• Do Yoga or Meditate as a way to overcome with stress.
• Talk to trusted friends or adults when emotions or stressors overcome.
• Learn about triggers for hard feelings, like sadness and anger.
• Name the things they are good at as a way of encourage their self-esteem and confidence and their strengths are.
• Understand that hard feelings and struggle are a natural part of life and not something to feel regretful.
• Eat healthy, get adequate sleep and regular exercise as a way of reducing stress and managing with difficult times.

Conveyance with Parents

Relationship between teachers and parents are important and when it comes to promoting students’ psychological health, the significance of this partnership play a major role.

Conveyance with parents is also important as a way of helping parents improve their children’s self-dignity. Teachers must tell parents what they see as strong and special about their children; make sure to communicate with parents if they notice changes in the child’s mood or behavior. Having this partnership is essential to help students stay psychologically well.

Pre-indication Signs  

In a hypothetical world, students would be physically and mentally well all the time. However, in reality, it’s crucial for teachers to understand the pre-indication signs that mean when the child should look for outside support or more serious intervention. Be sure to talk to counselor or social worker if a student:

• Speak aout self-injury.
• Appeared angry or aggressive.
• Extreme changes are noted in their energy level.
• Academically poor performance.
• Directly approaches you for help to find solutions about their emotional struggles.

“Tips for building good mental health and happiness”

• Search for Help Early.
• Exercise
• Identify and Use Your Strength
• Give and Care For Others
• Embrace Spirituality
• Build Relationship
• Develop Gratitude
• Create Flow

References–

[1] WHO

[2] https://core.ac.uk/

[3] https://finnolux.com/