Prioritizing Mental Health: Insights from South Africa

While traveling back from South Africa recently, I came across an insightful article in the Sowetan newspaper titled "How to Care for Mental Health" by Sibongile Mashaba. As we enter a new year (2025), it is indeed a good time to pause and reflect on our overall health.

Mashaba emphasizes that each year we set goals—whether it's aiming for a promotion or improving our finances—but one question that resonated with me was: Do those goals include prioritizing our mental health?

The Three Chambers of Mental Health

I found the article's summary of the three chambers of mental health by psychologist Sikander Kalla particularly enlightening:

1. Mood-Based and Transient: This chamber focuses on our emotions and how they can fluctuate.

2. Cognitive Domain: This involves our thought processes, including maladaptive and adaptive thoughts.

3. Behavioral Health Domain: This action-based domain addresses our behaviors and how they influence our mental well-being.

Kalla advises us to prioritize each of these domains. This requires knowledge of the resources available and gaining a deeper understanding, which can then be applied to various challenges in life.

Starting with the Basics

Begin by addressing obvious issues such as lack of sleep, appetite changes, or low energy levels. Do these issues cause you to withdraw from social interactions? Reflecting on these questions can provide insight into your mental health needs.

Setting SMART Goals

As an educator, I strongly connect with Kalla's advice to set SMART goals—specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. These goals can help us maintain a balanced approach to our mental health and overall well-being.

Take Action

As the school year progresses, I encourage you to take time to reflect on your mental health. If you have any questions or need more information, reach out to us at C&B Educational Consulting LLC through our website or email us at cbeducationalconsulting3@gmail.com