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The Intersection of Mental and Physical Wellbeing

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Mental health struggles are common in society – in fact, as of 2014, one quarter of people have or will encounter some kind of mental health issue during their lives (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). However, it is also important to remember that many people are disproportionately affected by mental illnesses, including racialized groups, communities facing poverty, and individuals with physical illnesses. Here, the latter will be explored, as well as the positive effects of physical activity on mental health. It is generally understood that experiencing difficult physical changes can have a negative effect on one’s mental health, while engaging in physical activity provides many mental benefits. It is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between physical and mental health. This allows for not just changes in personal lives that promote physical wellness, but a larger scale change in the healthcare system. In the mental health support sector in particular, a stronger understanding of physical and mental wellness can lead to improved support for those struggling with their mental health.

To begin, the relationship between mental and physical health is very complex. Those suffering from physical illness are at greater risk of developing mental disorders, and inversely, those suffering from mental illness are at greater risk of declining physical health (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). For example, individuals suffering from physical illness face lower life expectancy when they also suffer from depression (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). Not only this, but there is also a correlation between schizophrenia diagnoses and a significant drop in life expectancy (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). The development of a physical illness in addition to a preexisting mental struggle can make it all the more difficult for an individual to go about their everyday life. Social interaction and daily function become infinitely more difficult, which then leads to a decline in mental health, thus amplifying their declining physical condition. This exemplifies the cyclic nature of the relationship between physical and mental health (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). Suffering physical health takes a negative toll on mental health, which then further negatively impacts physical health. In terms of mental health issues in the healthcare system, the presence of both types of health issues (physical and mental) poses a challenge to addressing these concerns. Not only can the symptoms of one overlap with the symptoms of another, but it is also difficult to get the individual suffering from mental health issues connected with treatment (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). This reluctance towards treatment may be due to

complications of their physical health, but their mental health may also prevent them from accepting forms of therapies (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). All in all, declining physical health has a strong negative impact on mental health, and vice versa.

In addition to physical illness’ negative effect on mental health, physical activity has an extremely positive effect on mental health and can serve as a physical coping mechanism for poor mental health. Studies have shown that engaging in physical activity can improve mood and self-esteem while lowering stress (Agrawal et al., 2023). Not only this, but physical activity can also improve mental processes such as focus, memory, and attention for up to two hours (Agrawal et al., 2023). In adolescence, studies have shown that engaging in exercise over a controlled time period led to an increase in both quality and quantity of sleep, no matter how long the exercise period (Agrawal et al., 2023). Moreover, but in adults, exercise has been shown to improve the sleep quality of mentally ill adults (Agrawal et al., 2023). Moreover, in individuals with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, exercise can also be therapeutic. Exercise increases endorphins in the body, thus decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety by lowering hopelessness and worry in an individual (Agrawal et al., 2023). Finally, as previously mentioned, poor physical health is correlated with poor mental health. The World Health Organization states that exercise can reduce the risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes (World Health Organization, 2022). Engagement in physical activity has tremendous positive benefits that help to improve and maintain physical health. As shown by Doherty and Gaughran, better physical wellbeing also leads to improving mental health. Thus, the positive effect that exercise has on physical health can, therefore, also benefit mental wellbeing. As students, sleep and positive mental health are crucial. The use of physical activity as a method of maintaining strong mental health is scientifically proven to be successful, and is a healthy way to improve both rest and mood.

In summary, physical and mental health show a strong correlation. In terms of physical illnesses, mental health both affects physical health and is affected by it, making this relationship complex. Furthermore, exercise is a reliable method to not only reduce the risk of these physical illnesses, but also to improve sleep and mood. This particularly affects students, as students face many difficulties that could negatively impact their mental health. These may include academic, financial, and time management stressors (Bartlett, 2014). When students are constantly

encountering these factors, they must engage in positive coping strategies, such as exercise. It is crucial that these effects of physical wellness are considered and implemented into daily life to promote one’s mental wellbeing.

References

Bartlett, V. (2014). A roadmap for federal action on student mental health. Canadian Alliance of

Student Associations. https://books-scholarsportal-

25/1/10943071

Doherty, A. M., & Gaughran, F. (2014). The interface of physical and mental health. Social

Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49(5), 673–682.

Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of physical activity on mental health and well-

being: A review. Cureus, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475

World Health Organization. (2022, October 5). Physical Activity. World Health Organization.

 
 
 

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