Living well and fully requires enjoying mental health and emotional intelligence.

Mental health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; a person is able to cope with normal life stresses, work productively and contribute to their community, according to the WHO. Emotional intelligence, according to Goleman, is the developed ability to perceive the affections of other people, the ability to manage relationships and one’s emotions.

So, in general, if we enjoy emotional, psychological and social well-being and if we are compassionate towards others, we will live well.

Are we living well?

Mental health is built at home, because if the number one indicator is self-esteem, a healthy environment and developing healthy relationships, it is clear that the cradle of mental health is the family. Inner health is the one that shines invisible and most powerful at the same time.

Promoting self-esteem, stress management training, practicing mental gymnastics, healthy eating, valuing recreation and silence should be one of the main axes of child care workers, schools and companies. The workplace has its effects and in turn is damaged by the consequences of unhealthy conditions. The human being changes his habits and the decrease in the number of hours of sleep and performance begins to be reflected; begins to use drugs, cigarettes or alcohol to relax, rejects nerves and begins to complain; You are late for work and you start to lose motivation, commitment and confidence.

(…) it goes without saying that the cradle of mental health is the family…

Do they let us live well?

From the research conducted in Macara, province of Loja, and in the canton of Huaquillas, El Oro, on 1856 patients, it was shown that disorders caused by not controlling stress are in first place with 23%, disorders of sudden mood changes are in second place with 12.9%, and in the next place with 12.6% of schizophrenia, followed by 12.2% of drug addiction disorders.

In Colombia, the 2015 National Study on Mental Health states that 10 out of 100 adults between 18 and 44 and 12 out of 100 adolescents have a problem that indicates the presence of mental illness.

According to PAHO, “mental health disorders increase the risk of other diseases, and depression continues to be the leading mental health disorder and is twice as common in women as in men”.

If a safe environment and affectionate relationships are key to healthy individual development, I wonder what would happen in a society where violence and kidnappings attack the fragile social peace. That’s us, right?

Yes, it is our society, with an unfortunate victory over the drug trade, which has shamed the minds of thousands of young people. Yes, it is ours, with the unfortunate scourge that despises honor and decency for power and money, making those who see success there sick with envy and mediocrity.

Despite everything, it is possible to start over because wisdom and abundance always seductively emerge in crises and because deep down we know that mastering them will always be an unquenchable motive for noble action. (OR)