Mental Health Q&A Swahili

Learning effective decision-making skills helps people to better assess their options in life and the effects that different decisions may have. Techniques to improve decision-making include considering the benefits, drawbacks and costs of each possible choice a person faces.

Creative thinking can help people respond flexibly and adapt to things that happen to them. Critical thinking, which is related to creative thinking, is the ability to analyse information in an objective way. Critical thinking helps people to assess the factors that influence their own thoughts, feelings and attitudes.

Communicating effectively means being able to express oneself, both verbally and nonverbally, in appropriate and understandable ways. People can learn to think about how they communicate and reflect on their effectiveness. Interpersonal skills are strategies people can use to get along with other people and navigate social situations. These skills allow us to make and keep friendly relationships, keep good connections with family members, and to end relationships constructively when necessary.

Self-awareness includes knowing oneself and understanding one’s character, strengths, weaknesses, desires, likes and dislikes. Self-awareness can help people understand their own thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It can also help people identify when they need help and learn how to ask for it. Empathy is the ability to imagine what life is like for another person, even in unfamiliar situations. Empathy can help people understand and accept others.

Stress reduction involves recognizing the sources of stress in one’s life, understanding what helps control them and responding accordingly. Different stress reduction techniques can be used such as physical exercise, breathing exercises, and asking for help.

Emotional regulation involves learning to control one’s emotions, rather than letting emotions control one’s behaviour or actions.