Take It Easy Dear Friends

First, for all you guys who are already fathers, happy Father's Day!

And for all you guys out there, irrespective of whether you are a father or not, we will take this chance to give you a little reminder on your mental health -- relax and refresh.

Mental health is an important aspect of our overall health, as emphasized by the World Health Organization, and inadequate attention to it may have detrimental effects on our health as well as the quality of our life.

Global situation
The World Health Organization estimated that:

• 450 million people worldwide are affected by mental, neurological or behavioural problems at any time
• About 873 000 people die by suicide every year

Hong Kong situation
The 2003/04 Population Health Survey conducted by the Department of Health and the University of Hong Kong found that:

• 15% of men thought that they accomplished less than they would like due to emotional problems in the preceding 4 weeks
• 0.7% of men suffered from doctor-diagnosed depression
• 1.2% of men suffered from doctor-diagnosed anxiety disorder
• 6.1% of men ever thought of killing themselves
• 1.1% of men had attempted suicide in the preceding 12 months

This year, the theme of the International Men's Health Week focuses on mental health and the emotional well-being of men, which reflects both the importance of mental health, as well as reminds us of the need to take necessary action so as to attain better mental and emotional health.

Tips for maintaining good mental health

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle:
  • Exercise helps relax your mind and ease depressed mood
  • Avoid cigarettes, alcohol and illicit drugs -- dependence on these substances makes things worse
  • Eat properly. Have a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables
• Learn and practise self-relaxation techniques
• Think positive. Stress is part of life and just another challenge in life, and remember - there is always a way out
• Learn to identify stress symptoms such as increased irritability, insomnia and poor concentration, or depression symptoms such as loss of appetite, feeling useless and loss of interest in things in daily life
• Mental health problems can affect anyone and admitting that there is a problem is not a sign of weakness
• What to do when facing stress or feeling depressed?
  • It helps to talk to some trustworthy right person -- family, friend or health professional
  • Don't hesitate to seek professional help when necessary. Seeking help is a responsible act and is a sign of courage rather than weakness

You may visit the "Men's Mind" section of our website for further information on mental health.

(Last Updated on 16-06-2006)