The best way to understand mental wellness is to view it as
a continuum. Our positions may shift from time to time depending on the events
of our lives. Seeing mental health as a continuum means that we are not always
stuck in one state and we are able to move back and forth. It’s important to
understand that we all have mental health, just as we all have physical health.
The quality of our mental and physical health fluctuates. Factors such as
stress, lack of sleep and traumatic experiences can impact our mental health as
can the level and quality of support that one has in times of stress. Just as
we need to do things to maintain good physical health, it helps to do certain
things to maintain good mental health, such as manage our stress, seek
counseling and support when overwhelmed, or take care of our bodies through
proper sleep, diet and nutrition.