Mental health includes every aspect of our being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. With increasing technology, it is expected that we have mechanisms to cope with the mental issue but again here comes another issue; stigmatization around metal health problems and mental health illness. As days and time and months seems to be moving expeditiously, there’s pressure to achieve highly and keeping up with fellow peers.

There is excessive relying on the social media platforms to cope with the feelings and struggles of mental health such as anxiety, depressive episode. There is a need to include mental health in the curriculum starting as early as the lower grades primary school so that kids can be taught as early as possible on how to deal with mental health issue and there is also a necessity to have a compulsory course at the tertiary level about mental education. It has been noted some of the mental issues develop from the family unit as early as the child is conceived and the environment, he/she is brought up. I believe during prenatal care the mum or the parents to be need to be told and taught the basic things that can affect the child before it is born and after it is born.

It has been proven that when a new mum or a toddler parent is going through a crisis in life or any extreme stressful situation, their young ones become disposed to growing up having a lot of fear leading to anxiety, self-esteem issues and panic attacks.

Probably the next question is how can an adult teach themselves to self-regulate when there are in an intense emotion? A study has shown going for walks, spending time with nature, running, going to the gym and intentionally choosing to be proactive.

When dealing with mental issues and illness; I think the major issues is how to regulate the feelings/triggers and what to do in a tense situation and mitigation of stress. I believe one way or another our brain becomes aware when we are in a jittery situation; so, the best to do is after becoming aware is to step away from charged situation either incase in a room move outside or move to another place. Practicing the technique of controlled breathing and counting; in situation where, self-harm is triggered I believe the best practice is to go for a walk, or running or call a trusted friend or family.

Another idea is to run an anonymous line where one can send a message or talk. We need normalize mental days especially in work places, homes and learning institution.

- Gladys Kariuki