Over the past few years, I have written multiple times on mental health and reiterated that while we continue to look after our physical health, we often disregard the importance of mental and psychological health.

With great sadness and grief, our nation continues to see suicides, bullying and domestic violence reaching to the extent of murders across the country.

We ask ourselves: how can anyone make a decision to harm themselves, the ones they love, or even harm another living being?

It all comes down to an individual’s mental stability.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices.

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly longlasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

Here are some more tips on how to talk to someone about their mental health:

• Active listening. This is different from just hearing what a person has to say. A good active listener puts everything aside and gives their complete attention to the person who is talking. They ask open-ended questions to get more details about the topic being discussed. They take moments throughout the conversation to summarise what they’ve been told and make sure they are understanding clearly.

• Suicide hotline. The Government has on stream its national suicide prevention hotline, 800-COPE, which should be utilised.

• In terms of bullying in schools, I support the police stance indicating that parents of bullies can face consequences for the actions of their offspring.

• Also, we need to hold our elected leaders accountable and ensure they are good models to the nation’s youth. For example, it is troubling to know that a young, vibrant member of Parliament would get an opportunity to represent her constituency in a budget debate where she can make a great contribution towards this country, but chose rather to make a statement like put the highway between one’s legs; such a great opportunity wasted. From that contribution and that of her colleagues, it is quite obvious there is nothing they can find negatively about the budget presented, hence the low road of discussion.

Another elected leader questioned why individuals of a particular political party were wearing kurtas and attending Hindu functions. Imagine, brothers and sisters, a statement like this coming from a person elected to represent people of all religions and races in this cosmopolitan country of Trinidad and Tobago. Such comments have no place in society.

We are the creators of our destiny; we have to be the change we wish to see. What we sow now we shall reap later.

According to the Dalai Lama: ‘If we develop concern for other people’s welfare, share other people’s suffering, and help them, ultimately we will benefit.’

If we think only of ourselves and forget about others, ultimately we will lose. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of wellbeing becomes.

Nigel Seenathsingh San Fernando