{"id":26399,"date":"2022-05-02T15:59:09","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T19:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=26399"},"modified":"2026-01-16T14:26:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T19:26:17","slug":"why-you-should-check-in-on-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/why-you-should-check-in-on-your-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you should check in on your mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your mental health influences your take on life. It\u2019s both precious and linked to your physical health. Nevertheless, mental illness isn\u2019t always given the same weight as a physical illness. But feeling unwell mentally or emotionally is as valid as being physically ill.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ignoring your psychological state doesn\u2019t make you feel better, and untreated mental illness can affect all aspects of your life. Scheduling a regular <\/span>mental health check in <\/span>can help you identify early warning signs and take proactive steps to maintain your well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is mental health important and how does it affect your life?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Your <\/span>mental health<\/span><\/a> dictates in large part how you feel about your life and the world around you. It fluctuates over the course of your life, depending on your situation, and these fluctuations affect your wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Good mental health lets you deal with the challenges that life throws at you, helping you to bounce back from adversity. Periods of feeling low or poor mental health don\u2019t necessarily mean mental illness, however. If those feelings, thoughts, and behaviours begin to affect your daily life though, it may be a sign that you\u2019re dealing with a mental illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond colouring how you feel about things, mental health also has repercussions for your physical health. Individuals with mental illness are more likely to experience poor physical health, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Simply having a diagnosis of certain conditions can even <\/span>shorten your life expectancy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the main causes of mental health problems?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Scientists know that certain mental illnesses run in families, but what\u2019s written in your genes isn\u2019t always your destiny. Genetics may make you more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders, but your environment influences whether or not these genes are \u201cturned on.\u201d This is known as epigenetics \u2014 or how your genes are influenced by what happens to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early life or developmental stresses, for example, such as trauma, neglect, and abuse, are often underlying factors triggering mental health conditions. These don\u2019t have to be limited to early life, however. Abuse, discrimination, and harassment in your adult years can also contribute to the development of psychopathology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond your environment, physical issues or defects within your brain can also contribute to psychiatric disorders. <\/span>Research shows<\/span><\/a>, for example, that changes in temporal and frontal areas of the brain are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD).<\/span><\/p>\n

More than these processes, however, might be responsible for mental illness. New research is looking at how your gut health <\/span>may influence<\/span><\/a> your mental health. This may come as a surprise, but a large percentage of neurotransmitters, or your body\u2019s chemical messengers, are actually made in your gut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your brain uses these neurotransmitters \u2014 like serotonin \u2014 to send messages throughout itself and your body. If your gut microbiota changes, it can affect your mental health and your behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n

So while the precise cause of your mental illness isn\u2019t fully understood, there\u2019s likely more than one factor at play.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do I know if I need to seek help and what are the early signs of mental health problems?<\/b><\/h3>\n

While some find that they\u2019re able to deal with their mental health challenges without professional intervention, this isn\u2019t always the case. Seek additional support if you\u2019re experiencing the following:<\/span><\/p>\n