BY GEORGES ELIE KARAM, MD
September 15, 2022

Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
1. Connect with other people.
Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:
• help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth.
• give you an opportunity to share positive experiences.
• provide emotional support and allow you to support others.

2. Be physically active.
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
• raising your self-esteem.
• helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them.
• causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood.

3. Learn new skills.
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
• boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem.
• helping you to build a sense of purpose.
• helping you to connect with others.

4. Give to others.
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
• creating positive feelings and a sense of reward.
• giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth.
• helping you connect with other people.
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness).
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

Dr. Georges Elie Karam
Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry.
Chairman, Dept. of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology,
St. George Hospital University Medical Centre / Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University.
Medical Institute for Neuropsychological Disorders (MIND).
Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy & Applied Care (IDRAAC).
President of Alzheimer’s Association Lebanon (AAL).