Does writing a journal help one's mental health?

Personally I believe it does. Human beings are expressive creatures. When they don't find a way to express their feelings, thoughts, burdens, etc.. it accumulates inside them. Their accumulated negative feelings turn into anger ready to explode at any moment. They become more prone to stress and crashing under the slightest pressure. Therefore, I believe that writing a journal is a good means to alleviate the burden and let out the negative emotions before it affects the person's mentality.

I do think keeping a journal aids in mental health, depending on different individuals. Human beings vent or express themselves in numerous ways. Some of us sing, some dance, some dance, talk about it, illustrate, and some would write. randomly, others, in detailed sequential notes. A journal would appeal to some as a means of expression, and won't appeal to others. It depends on the individual.

Keeping a journal is one way of stopping the mind and questioning our stressful thoughts.  An unquestioned mind can lead to war.

Yes, writing a journal helps a person to organize her/his thoughts and have a clear perspective on things. In return this helps her/him to have a healthy mind. Disorganized thoughts leads to chaos in the mind and can also lead to negative thoughts. Thus, it is better to write down our feelings to let go of our emotions and have a healthy mind.

yes, of corse writer was a reader, befor what he is,  there are some readers can't be ok when they do not write what they feeling or about thinks happened in life, even it is as a poem,Thoughts,article...ext that way help- him, her- to have mental-health.

Both ways: It may or may not. It depends on how you define mental health. If getting angry, depressive, moody, feeling lonely and reserved are signs of mental disturbance, writing a journal on daily basis can help. But if you mean getting schizophrenic and deeply depressive are the indicators of bad mental health, writing a journal will not help. Writing abut oneself is only a way of distracting the mind from certain thoughts, not a guarantee to good mental health. Kafka is said to suffer from occasional mental illnesses, but he wrote brilliant novels. None of them were helpful to him to come out of his depression. But, of course, if one feels the need to distract the mind to keep it healthy, better write than disturb others.    

Brilliant question, Shatha........thanks for asking! 

Journal is defined as:

"a daily record, as of occurrences, experiences, or observations." The origin lies in both Latin and French. Jour in French means day like in French greeting Bonjour for Good day.

Writing a journal is a self cleaning exercise that gives vent to your ideas, emotions.......your personal turmoil, happiness, sadness and glory! Joirnal can be both short and long depending on your mood.

Writing a journal not only helps mental health by releasing one's psychological burden, anguish and worries, it is proven to do so in all physical diseases. Journaling is a very useful exercise in helping you look in the mirror..........and owning what you see....your pudgy nose, circles under the eyes, most kissable lips, eyes as deep as lake Placid......the works! It's one of the most effective tools for self psychoanalysis!  

Yes. Self-reflection is imperative and dramatically increases personal growth in may ways.  Unfortunately, it is a step that is often skipped  y professionals in most fields.

Penning down one's thoughts or journaling it and its influence on mental health is a very neglected yet powerful aspect. Writing down helps one to realise the train of thoughts and identify them rather than piling up it all in the mind and boggled down with worry. Writing helps one gain clarity of one's thoughts and thus about themself. Thought diary is a very effective tool in disputing one's thoughts and thereby gradually getting rid of negative thoughts. Ths not only helps you reduce the worry but also makes you feel positive and better about yourself. Everything is clearer when penned down rather than thinking about it. A regular practise of writing a personal journal can also contribute to the over all thinking pattern and behaviour of the individual, when followed religiously.

Writing, reading or any activity make people express themselves makes mental activity better  

Writing does help in releasing the stress which eventually leads to a better mental health.

Having said this, it toally depends upon the person experiencing illness within his mind for writing journal is not the only way of venting out.