CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE JANUARY Magazine | Page 85

This tells us that many people are dealing As most of you readers out there are
with suboptimal mental health. When we involved in fitness somehow, I know that to
do not prioritize our mental health, our some degree you guys care about being in
entire outlook on life changes. Oftentimes good physical and mental health. This will
those who suffer from mental health be crucial if you want to have the best
illnesses have trouble motivating possible physique as both go hand in hand.
themselves to be their absolute best, to live Mental and physical health are linked.
out their life to the fullest. Many of them People with a long-term medical condition
even neglect their physical health. Although such as chronic pain are much more likely
many times we cannot control mental to also experience mood disorders.
health illnesses just like we don’t always Conversely, people with a mood disorder
have control over our physical health, we are at a much higher risk of developing a
also take steps towards preventing these long-term medical condition according to
and working to overcome them. Just like an article from the Canadian Journal of
what we feed our body affects our physical Psychiatry. So remember, prioritize your
health, what we feed our mind affects our physical and mental health through not
mental health. If you are constantly only what you feed your body but what you
surrounded by negative individuals, are feed your mind. In every single aspect. It is
feeding negative thoughts and put yourself crucial to get routine checks done to
in situations that you are aware are not ensure that you are not allowing for
good for your mental health, this is not something to turn into a major issue down
going to be great for your mental health. the road. If your health is not optimized,
Even if you are somebody who requires you will never reach your full potential of
medication for certain imbalances in your looking your absolute best. 
brain, it is crucial to work with your doctor
and determine what the best scenario is for
you.
Patten et al. (2005). Long-term medical conditions and major depression: strength of association for
specific conditions in the general population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 50: 195-202.
Roberts and Grimes (2011). Return on investment: Mental health promotion and mental illness
prevention. A Canadian Policy Network / Canadian Institute for Health Information report. Ottawa:
CIHI.