À l’heure du tout à l’image et du buzz sans suite, «l’express» souhaite faire découvrir la plume de poètes, de chanteurs, d’écrivains et de tous ceux qui jettent leur âme sur le papier, et qui mettent en mots des réflexions profondes.

Each of us reading this text today probably charged our phones. But what about our minds? How long will we keep saying, “I’m fine”, while cries for help stay buried deep in our throats?

On October 10th, we marked the World Mental Health Day. But what do we really mean by mental health? Simply put, mental health is the health of the mind – how well we manage our emotions, thoughts, and the ups and downs of life. Too often, terms like poor mental health, mental disorder, and mentally ill are used interchangeably. Let’s clarify:

Poor mental health – a temporary state where your mental wellbeing is low, often triggered by life circumstances. It may show as exhaustion, stress, or emotional detachment. You can still function, but poor mental health strains relationships, weakens immunity, and can increase the risk of heart disease.

Mental disorder – a clinically diagnosed condition, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, where symptoms significantly impair daily functioning. Mentally ill – someone living with a mental disorder. Today, over 1 billion people live with a mental disorder. It’s time to break the stigma. Being mentally ill does not mean being “crazy”. Suffering from a mental illness is just like having asthma or diabetes – it requires care, understanding, and treatment.

Taking care of your mind doesn’t require grand gestures. Small, consistent actions can make a world of difference: Connect with friends and family.

Learn something new. Start that hobby you’ve been putting off.

Leave toxic environments when possible. Move your body – and if you’re in a wheelchair, explore exercises made for you.

Step outside whenever you can and soak in the sun. Take regular breaks and ensure adequate sleep. Take care of your mental health. DO IT. DO IT TIRED. DO IT SCARED. DO IT HEALING. DO IT ANYWAY – because your mind deserves an effort too.

It’s okay to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness. Early support prevents problems from worsening and reduces feelings of isolation. Let’s break the stigma and support one another.

And you – yes, you reading this – take a moment. Look in the mirror and ask yourself honestly: How are you really doing?

Maybe it’s time we stop just charging our phones… and start recharging our minds too.

Bio

Nidhi Gunowry

A passionate medical student and founder of Instagram channel @medtalks.by.nidhi, she makes medical knowledge accessible to everyone. She believes that medicine is life, and life is for all, and works to simplify complex concepts for the public.