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Lifestyle Changes That Improve Mental Health | 37

3. Lifestyle Changes That Improve

Mental Health

Christine Berger

In recent years there has been an increase in people seeking
multiple methods of treatment for mental illness and,
subsequently, an increase in research on the role of lifestyle
choices and their impact on mental health. The message from
both clinical practice and a large and growing body of research
has been that, while it requires more responsibility to make
healthy choices, the positive outcomes for physical and mental
health are worthwhile. In this chapter we examine the roles that
diet, exercise, sleep, time in nature, and social support play in
improving mental health. First, we examine one of the key
factors in the success of lifestyle choices: self-efficacy and
motivation.

Reframing Lifestyle Choices as Empowering
Decisions
While certain components or factors of mental illness are
beyond our control, recent research has demonstrated that
many choices we can make on a daily basis improve our mental
health or at least minimize symptoms. However, numerous
factors tend to predict whether individuals will take full