If we say, ‘What Mental Health needs is more sunlight, more candour, and more unashamed conversation’, you would say, oh! I know this… Well, do you implement the same? No, right?
Now, a shocking statistic – Mental health and substance use disorders affect 13% of the world’s population. So, should we take it seriously? Yes!
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” If we try to understand it more deeply, psychological well-being (PWB) is also an important part of mental health. PWB refers to the level of psychological happiness/health, encompassing life satisfaction, and feelings of accomplishment.
Do you know when it comes to mental health, location also plays a significant role? Let’s explore some countries that stand out as havens for mental peace.
SWEDEN (Europe)
Capital: Stockholm
Population: 10,452,326 people
Places to Visit: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Abisko, Are, Halmstad, Helsingborg, and many more.
Best Time To Visit: May to September
Sweden tops in the list of countries with the best mental health in the world. The country is quite famous for its abundant forests and lakes.
Sweden is not just famous for its natural phenomena like the Northern Lights (a natural light display that is frequent during the winter months in northern Sweden) or the midnight sun (when the sun never sets in the summer) but what makes this country stand out is its desire to change the world for the better. Its contribution towards sustainability, social welfare, and successful accomplishments in reducing waste positions it at the top.
FINLAND (Europe)
Capital: Helsinki
Population: 5,558,625 people
Places to Visit: Suomenlinna Fortress, Rovaniemi and the Arctic, Helsinki Churches, Åland Archipelago, and many more places
Best Time To Visit: June to August
According to World Happiness Report 2022, Finland is the happiest country in the world. It is also praised around the globe for its low inequality, successful education system, high living standards, and high employment rate.
You can visit Lake Saimaa for a peaceful lakeside retreat and then head to Yyteri, the longest beach in Finland, for a calm summer getaway.
FRANCE (Europe)
Capital: Paris
Population: 65,573,982 people
Places to Visit: Paris & Versailles, The Charming Countryside of Provence, The Côte d’Azur, Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, and many more
Best Time To Visit: April to June & September to November
France is one of the most peaceful countries if you’re seeking a spiritual journey. The southern part of France has stone sites, historic cathedrals, and tours that delve into the rich history beyond contemporary politics and religious movements.
You can also visit lum Village, the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and a highly sought-after meditation centre.
THE NETHERLANDS (Europe)
Capital: Amsterdam
Population: 17,213,640 people
Places to Visit: Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven, Groningen, Middelburg, and other places
Best Time To Visit: June, September to November
The Netherlands is famous for its calm and peaceful atmosphere. One can enjoy the lovely tulips at Keukenhof gardens, take a tranquil boat ride to escape the city, and rent a bike to explore Amsterdam. The country has a high Global Peace Index Score which indicates low levels of imprisonment, murder, violent crimes, terrorism, and internal conflicts.
ITALY (Europe)
Capital: Rome
Population: 60,276,425 people
Places to Visit: Rome, Florence, France, Lake Como, Amalfi Coast, Tuscany Hill Towns
Best Time To Visit: March to May & September to November
Italy takes the top spot for hours devoted to leisure. Italy offers an ideal setting for relaxation and rejuvenation with its picturesque rolling hills, soothing hot springs, and scenic Mediterranean coastline.
Also, it has the most UNESCO world heritage sites in the world, a few of them are the Colosseum in Rome, the city of Pompeii, and the glorious Amalfi Coast. If that’s not enough, let us tell you that there are over 1,500 lakes in Italy which are surrounded by the snowy Alps and golden beaches.
CANADA (North America)
Capital: Ottawa
Population: 38,430,718 people
Places to Visit: Jasper National Park, Vancouver, Quebec City, Niagara Falls, Prince Edward Island
Best Time To Visit: September to November
If you love travelling to a peaceful place, consider Canada which is a peaceful nation due to the consistent devaluation of internal conflict and violence, resulting in the promotion of unity and harmony amongst its citizens.
Furthermore, the country has seen remarkable growth in immigration into the country in recent times. Every Canadian citizen embraces the diversity it brings to their society.
NORWAY (Europe)
Capital: Oslo
Population: 5,509,445 people
Places to Visit: The Oslo region, Tromsø, Lofoten and Nordland, Bergen and much more
Best Time To Visit: June to August
If you plan to visit one of the world’s happiest countries in the world, consider Norway as you will find everything there, from the West Coast fjords to snow-dusted mountains. If you prefer to travel in summer, you can enjoy the benefits of the midnight sun. Its seafood is mouthwatering.
SLOVENIA (Europe)
Capital: Ljubljana
Population: 2,079,534 people
Places to Visit: Maribor, Koper, Kranjska Gora, Celje, Ptuj, Piran, Postojna, and more
Best Time To Visit: June to August
Known as a sustainable country in the heart of Europe, Slovenia is a perfect place for you if you love to explore forests, parks, and riverbanks. But if you are thinking that Slovenia is chock full of trees, then make some mental room for a whole lot of water as well.
