Assessment 1-Phase 2

Table of Contents

Table of

Contents..........................................................................................................................................

Mental Healthcare is as Important as Physical Healthcare in South Africa....................................

The importance of mental health.....................................................................................................

Environmental Factors...........................................................................................................4

Mental Disorders................................................................................................................4

Physiological factors..........................................................................................................5

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................

References........................................................................................................................................
 Mental Healthcare is as Important as Physical Healthcare in South Africa.

According to(citation), mental health is a state of wellness characterized by self-

awareness, the ability to handle everyday challenges, the capacity for successful and

productive work, and the capacity to contribute to one's community. Health, both physical

and mental, it is influenced by a variety of personal and environmental factors, including

lifestyle and health choices, as well as levels of stress at home and at work. A person's mental

health would suffer if the demands placed on them are greater than their resources and

capacity for coping as stated by (citation).

 The importance of mental health.

There are times when the symptoms of mental and physical disorders are identical,

such as a loss in energy and food impulses. Therefore, this essay aims to argue that mental

health care is as important as physical health care in South Africa.

Environmental Factors

Firstly, environmental factors such as stress and immune system interference are the

two leading contributors to mental illness. The environment has a significant impact on

human mental and physical health since it is more difficult to be physically healthy when

residing in a hazardous or unhealthy area. Hence, the bodies’ capacity to deal with sickness

may also be compromised. When combined with other environmental circumstances,

unemployment can affect a person's mental and emotional well-being. For instance,

(citation), states that job insecurity may be especially stressful and bring on poorer mental

and physical health as a decline in productivity or income due to physical health could limit

access to healthier lifestyle. The income effect of unemployment has an adverse influence on

mental health as stress at work brought on by having a mental problem can have similar

detrimental effects on one's health.

For instance, (citation), states that being unemployed makes it difficult to maintain

good health. As a result, someone may adopt bad eating and sleeping patterns, smoke, or

abuse drugs in an effort to relieve their symptoms, which will only have a negative impact on

their health. Furthermore, social connections are important health-related producing elements.

However, the lack of social engagement on mental health have been linked favourably in

previous research as individual’s with social isolation have higher susceptible to mental and

physical illnesses.
 Mental Disorders. Secondly with mental health, untreated depression can result in

suicide thoughts and attempts as the mood can be influenced by the lifestyle, past experiences

and genetic factors. Hence this affects the capacity to think clearly, make wise judgments,

and fend off chronic illnesses and diseases can all be negatively impacted by poor

psychological health. Neglecting our mental health over time can result in serious illnesses

and health issues like high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, heart disease, obesity,

digestive issues, a weaker immune system, and even premature mortality. One of the secrets

of mental stability is recognizing the susceptibility to mental disorders, particularly mood

disorders, as this requires an understanding of both positive and negative expectations for the

future as stated by (citation).

For instance, as stated by Draper et al., (2009), being able to recognize when you are

"choosing" or "allowing yourself" to think positively rather than negatively is a key

component in avoiding negative ideas. Draper et al., (2009), also claims that those who

appear to be happy all the time have greater amounts of the neurotransmitters dopamine and

serotonin as well as the hormone endorphins. These are secreted by the brain and make

people feel good when they are enjoying themselves or when something nice occurs.

However, recent research has revealed an inverse relationship between optimism and suicidal

thoughts as well as depression symptoms (Hards et al., 2022). Hence, the association between

hopelessness and suicidal ideation thus appears to be significantly moderated by optimism.

Despite the paucity of studies on this subject, the relationship between physical health and

optimism is just as important as the one between optimism and mental health discussed

above. Numerous studies have shown that, as compared to pessimism, optimism is associated

with greater physical well-being (Conversano, 2010).

physiological factors. Thirdly, with mental health, exercise and physical activity are

linked to higher quality of life and health (Jacobs, 2022). This refers to an individual’s
physical condition that is linked to performance whether through career or even school. For

instance, keeping a healthy diet prevents you from getting sick often, as it also contributes to

performance in sport related careers. Therefore, fit and leaner athletes perform much better

when their physical performance is strong (Krifa et al., 2022). However, bad physical health

can affect athlete confidence and how athletes feel about their overall appearance thus

affecting their mental health. Hence, good physical health can help build relationships by

joining gym clubs and playing team sports. It is also a benefit for young adults who want to

further their careers such as bursaries for athletes and is also a good alternative career path for

an individual that wants to branch into sport rather than in academia or a corporate career

(Mäkelä, 2016).

However, Makepeace et al., (2021) states that various researchers have looked at this

issue and discovered that there is a strong link between physical activity and mental health,

but their conclusions about what kinds, when, how, and how many workouts are necessary

have varied. For example, Meyer et al., (2019) states that your mood is improved by the

release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and endorphins during exercise. It can help you

connect with others and lessen any feelings of isolation. Regular exercise can help you

recover from mental health issues by lowering stress levels and the symptoms of diseases like

sadness and anxiety as described by the common term “You look good, you feel good”.

Hence, physical activity can lower your risk of developing diseases like diabetes, cancer,

dementia, Parkinson's disease, heart, and lung disease, as well as other physical conditions

that might have an impact on your mental health, such as your confidence (Yao, 2022).
 Conclusion

One of the key elements influencing society's stability, growth, and security is mental

health. One of the key components of every nation’s health system is ensuring the residents'

mental stability. It has been demonstrated that mental health issues are more prevalent than

physical ones and that they can appear in a wide range of both mental and physical

circumstances. Anyone can experience mental health in some way, whether it takes a

straightforward or complex shape. A healthy body is inextricably linked to a healthy mind.

We must abandon the current taboo and treat mental and physical health equally.
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