One thing that the difficult times of Covid have taught us is to take care of both our mental well-being along with physical health. On October 10, World Mental Health Day is celebrated to raise awareness around different issues of the mind and also extend support towards the efforts made towards the betterment of mental health. Shaan Mishra talks about the importance of mental well-being and how he looks at the whole issue.
“Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right, and it is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development,” says Shaan Mishra, who has done TV shows such as ‘Lovepantii’, ‘Nikki Babbal’ and ‘Chhoti Sardarni’, and web series’ like ‘Abhay 2’, ‘Enigma’ and ‘Poker’.
Shaan Mishra adds that people should not just stop at taking care of their physical health, but also look after their mental well-being. “Mental health is essential for leading a happy life. It affects how we feel, think, and live our lives by encompassing our emotional, psychological, and sociological well-being. Prioritising mental health is, of course, important. For good mental health one must make sure to sleep for eight hours at least. People must do relaxing activities, set goals and priorities. One must also practice gratitude, focus on positivity and stay connected with their loved ones,” he shares.
On days he feels low, he tries to think of the good things that has happened to him. “I also try to get some sleep, watch good movies or web series, go out with my closed ones, eat well, go for long drives or play sports and do hardcore workout at the gym,” he adds.
In fact, to take care of his mind, he exercises regularly. “Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. I eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated,” he says.
Shaan Mishra feels the entertainment industry is generally targeted when it comes to depression and anxiety. “That is because of they are public figures and people know or are keen to know too much about them. Their fall from stardom on one hand and exposure, limelight and success on the other, are seen in a very different way compared to others. I also feel that people associated with the entertainment industry go through more stress than any other field of work. Again, that is because they are not able to maintain the same status and the platform which was with them at the peak of their stardom and success of their life at one point of time,” he concludes.
