What is Mental Health - CUHK MDW

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What is Mental Health

What is Mental Health

What is mental health? – From illness to wellness

Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are one of the world’s largest migrant populations (Basnyat & Chang, 2017). According to the International Labor Organization, MDWs are typically not protected under host country labor laws, which put them at risk for mental health issues (Ho et al., 2022). Therefore, here are some information and resources for MDWs to promote their mental health.

Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is essential for handling life’s challenges, building healthy relationships, and living fulfilling lives. Traditionally, mental health has been associated with mental illness. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards a more holistic approach to mental health, emphasizing mental wellness rather than just the absence of mental illness. Mental wellness involves realizing one’s potential, coping with stress, working productively, and contributing to communities.

What can you do for improving mental health?

Get some physical activity. According to research, regular exercise can improve your mood and help you sleep better.

Sleep well. Try to incorporate healthy sleeping habits into your daily routine. Establish a routine: go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

Learn to be content with yourself. Learning about yourself and what makes you happy. Recognize what aspects of yourself you can and cannot change. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, accept them, build on them, and make the best of what you have.

Build strong connections with others. Strong social support system could help you through the challenging time.
Pay attention to your own desires and emotions. To learn more about yourself, write in a journal or start a blog.

Reference

Basnyat, I., & Chang, L. (2017). Examining live-in foreign domestic helpers as a coping resource for family caregivers of people with dementia in Singapore. Health Communication, 32(9), 1171-1179.

Ho, K. H. M., Yang, C., Leung, A. K. Y., Bressington, D., Chien, W. T., Cheng, Q., & Cheung, D. S. K. (2022). Peer Support and Mental Health of Migrant Domestic Workers: A Scoping Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(13), 7617.

What is depression? Psychiatry.org – What Is Depression? Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression (Accessed: November 27, 2022).

Treatment-resistant depression: How to adjust your life for recovery. WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/adjusting-life-recovery (Accessed: November 27, 2022).

What is mental wellness: Singapore association for mental health: Mental wellness for all (2022). Available at: https://www.samhealth.org.sg/understanding-mental-health/what-is-mental-wellness/ (Accessed: November 27, 2022).

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