Find balance – take care of your mental health!

This year, on October 10th – World Mental Health Day – we invite the entire academic community to reflect on the topics of well-being, balance, emotions, and self-esteem. In short, we invite you to join us in finding balance!

What is mental health?

Mental health is not simply the absence of illness – it is a state of well-being in which a person is aware of their abilities, can cope with daily stress, work effectively, and realize their potential. It is the ability to build relationships, regulate emotions, make decisions, and experience meaning in life.

Major Challenges

The modern world presents us with many challenges: overload, economic uncertainty, social isolation, and a fast-paced lifestyle. All of this can lead to low mood, burnout, anxiety, and depression. According to the WHO, one in eight people worldwide suffers from a mental disorder – most commonly depression and anxiety disorders.

How to take care of your mental health?

Stop and listen to yourself – pay attention to the signals coming from your body and emotions.

Take care of your sleep, exercise and diet – physiology has a direct impact on your mood and mental resilience.

Set boundaries – learn to say “no” when something exceeds your capabilities.

Seek supportive relationships – surround yourself with people who make you feel safe.

Seek help from professionals – a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist is nothing to be ashamed of – it's an investment in yourself.

Techniques to support mental balance

1. Mindfulness – practicing mindfulness helps reduce tension, calms the mind, and increases self-awareness.
2. Keeping an emotional journal – allows you to identify patterns that contribute to or burden you.
3. Breathing exercises – a simple way to regulate stress and tension.
4. Creative activity – drawing, writing, music – supports the expression of emotions.

When to seek help?

If you notice in yourself or your loved ones:
a prolonged low mood,
difficulty falling asleep or excessive sleepiness,
irritability, anxiety, withdrawal,
loss of enjoyment in things you once enjoyed,
this is a sign that it's worth stopping and seeking support.
Treatment for mental disorders is effective, and early intervention significantly increases the chances of improvement.

Summary
World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10th, is an initiative aimed at promoting mental health awareness, raising public awareness, and combating the stigma surrounding people struggling with mental disorders. It was established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and is observed in over 150 countries.
This is an important opportunity to take care of yourself and others. Regardless of your life situation, everyone deserves peace, acceptance and access to help. Mental health is not a luxury—it is the foundation of everyone's well-being.

References
- World Health Organization (2022). Mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health
- WFMH (2023). World Mental Health Day Resources.
- Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). *Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being*.
- Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). *Mindfulness for Beginners*.