Our Mental Health Ebbs and Flows Like the Ocean

October is world Mental Health Month as the United Nations (UN) believes mental health is important enough to dedicate a whole month to it.

The moment you mention mental health, people feel uneasy or have preconceived misconceptions.

The UN wants to combat this and sees it as an opportunity to have conversations about mental health.

We should discuss this topic in Namibia every month not just in October. However, having a dedicated month is a good start.

MY APPROACH

I’m not a mental healthcare provider; this is just how I approach my mental health.

When I think about how it affects people, I like to think of mental health as an ocean: constantly in flux, much like our oceans.

There is an ebb and flow to the oceans because of the tides and the moon.

The lunar aspect has always been connected to mental health in some way. Often, not positively. Just look at the word lunacy.

For centuries, people have believed the moon affects some people’s mental health. Those theories have, of course, been debunked.

This doesn’t change my comparison.

Oceans are vast and connected, affecting each other through currents, weather patterns, climate and the ebb and flow of their tides.

Our mental health has vast depths. As humans, we have periods of tranquility.

This can be disrupted by outside forces that impact our mental health; they can trigger waves of grief, happiness, angst, anger or depression.

Ocean storms can cause massive container ships to be tossed around like matchsticks, and require the crew to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm.

Once the storm ends, the ocean is often as smooth as a snooker table, belying the havoc caused a few hours earlier.

When we usually go with the flow, our mental health is in balance, and there seems to be no great disturbance in the tidal pattern of our mental health.

However, sometimes a storm springs up and our mental health goes off balance. The disturbance to our brain’s equilibrium can feel like an endless raging storm.

COMPANIES

Having the tools to batten down the hatches mentally is essential.

We need a support system that helps us through the eye of the storm and leads us to safety, where peace and serenity prevail once again.  

This is easier said than done. It means asking for help or knowing who to turn to when your mind is in this state. It requires trust in those around you.

Companies should have trained wellness professionals to assist with mental health issues.

Just as employers give time off for physical health issues, mental health issues should receive the same consideration.

The oceans are a force of nature and must be given the respect they deserve. If not, they will cause unimaginable damage one moment and be smooth and serene the next.

If we don’t treat our mental health with the respect it deserves, we can cause lasting damage to ourselves and possibly those around us.

The ebb and flow of our mental health mirrors the ocean. Let’s keep that in mind this October and find the ‘sea of tranquility’ within us with the help of those around us.

• John Steytler is the chief executive officer of the Development Bank of Namibia. This article is written in his personal capacity.