Good morning ladies and gentlemen
Welcome to the University of Technology Sydney health forum of 2020
First, I would like to thank you for this opportunity of being here today and your audience. Your presence in such impressive numbers speaks to how much you value your health. This year’s forum is dedicated to “Mental Health.” A theme mainly chosen in light of the rising mental health issues among the youth, a challenge being faced by every country worldwide. What is mental health? According to the World Health Organization, mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” this means that our mental health has a direct influence on how we think, act and feel. A person’s mental health shifts during their lifetime in reaction to different stressors and circumstances. Being in a bad mental state results in mental illness and mental disorders; the difference between these two is the condition’s origin. Mental illness develops due to poor health caused by disease of the body or mind. In contrast, a mental disorder is a condition that develops due to the disturbance of the normal physical or psychological state of the mind or body that causes confusion or disarray. There are over 300 mental disorders and illnesses diagnosed by health professionals, including depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorders, and substance abuse disorders. It is obligatory for you to take good care of your mental health with the world being more complicated every day; the youth are the most affected with mental health issues currently. You have to stay sane and son top of your schoolwork, jobs, and all other activities you are involved in while also enjoying life. That is why I will shift my focus to how you can maintain good mental health because prevention is always preferred to cure. You can do this by ensuring you get enough sleep; this helps to regulate chemicals in your brain that are important in managing our moods and emotions. Eating well is also essential since the minerals we get from food such as iron help in keeping the brain in check. Its deficiency can lead to low moods, which in turn eventually end up making us feel depressed. Also, avoid alcohol and smoking drugs, which apart from the effects we know of can end up causing severe mental problems for us. Smoking for a long time leads to thiamine deficiency, which sometimes leads to severe memory, motor, and eye problems. In severe cases, mental disorders like schizophrenia are likely to develop. You should also be able to manage stress even though it is unavoidable, knowing what triggers stress and worry for you and how to cope with it is key in sustaining good mental health. You can also do regular exercises and other activities that you enjoy to keep your brain occupied. Also, make lots of friends and make meaningful connections with each other; this is a very good move to fight feelings of loneliness, which contribute to conditions like depression. Lastly, you should be able to ask for help when you feel it is necessary. You are the only one who knows your body, so anytime you feel like something is wrong, do not be afraid to seek professional help or assistance from your close friends or relatives. It helps to talk to someone. This is one of the most important ways to keep yourself mentally healthy. For more information on mental health, I have shared my email and other contact information on the school website. Feel free to contact me anytime, and I will be happy to be of assistance, thank you.
Rationale
The audience of this speech is the University of Technology Sydney. A mental health expert delivered the speech during the university’s health forum held annually at the institution. This speech aims to inform and persuade the audience to make them aware of mental health matters and persuade them to maintain a good mental state. The key message is general information about mental health, its definition, triggers, and the types of mental illnesses and disorders. And lastly, ways to maintain a healthy state of mind.