How to stay happy?

“Without a pack, we will definitely fall ill”

Kurosch Yazdi-Zorn is a primary care physician at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz and Chairman of the pro mente Upper Austria Board.

(Bild: © Harald Dostal / 2024)

Inflation, wars, crises - psychiatry primer Kurosch Yazdi-Zorn explains how we can remain or become happy despite everything on the occasion of the "10 Days of Mental Health".

Humans are animals - or to be more precise: "We are social beings, humans are pack animals. We need a social environment in which we feel comfortable, a pack that means well with us, for most people this is their family or circle of friends. Without a pack, we will definitely fall ill," says Kurosch Yazdi-Zorn, Head of Psychiatry at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz and Chairman of the Board of pro mente Oberösterreich.

A quarter with mental health problems
The social association is calling for "10 days of mental health" with a series of events until October 10. What else is needed in addition to the social pack to remain or become happy in times of crisis and war? After all, it is estimated that more than a quarter of the population will struggle with mental health problems at some point in their lives.

A little bit of everything
"It's about balance," replies Yazdi-Zorn. By this, the head physician means: "It's important to have a bit of everything. You need times when you can de-stress, but you also need times when you are challenged, for example at work or in education. You need mental exertion, but you also need physical exertion, such as sport."