Mental Health

“A sound mind is as important as a sound body. One may have a sound body but do not forget that the body is controlled by the mind.”

Mental illness has raised concerns in the past few years. It affects 19% of adults, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. However, due to stigma and stereotypes related to mental health ,less than half of them receive treatment. Stigma and discrimination result from ignorance and misinformation. So , Mental health literacy is very important. Mental health literacy includes recognition, causes, self-help, facilitation of professional intervention, and navigating the information highway

Mental illness causes hindrance in our way of thinking, behavior and our ability to deal with our emotions. Our thoughts are affected so much that we find it difficult to meet the simple demands of life. The causes of mental illness are very complex. It may be due to trauma, abnormal brain condition or genetics.

The two most common mental health conditions are:

Anxiety Disorders — It affects a large section of adults every year. It includes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (panic attacks), generalized anxiety disorder and various phobias.

Mood Disorders — Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar depression are becoming very common nowadays. It is affecting more and more people every year.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A person suffering from OCD has recurring , unwanted ideas and thoughts called obsessions and they feel compelled to repeat a set of actions( compulsions) to drive away these thoughts. For example , a person may have the obsession that everything around him/ her is unhygienic and thus has compulsions of washing his/ her hand every few minutes.

Personality Disorders

People with such disorders have very strange and extreme personality traits and behavior. Due to this , thy face difficulties in work, school, or social relationships. Personality disorders can include antisocial personality disorder( a willingness to not follow social norms) and borderline personality disorder( people who avoid being abandoned, maybe suicidal ).

Psychotic Disorders

It affects the mind. People find it difficult to think clearly, take decisions or make judgments about something. People refrain from living in reality. It may cause hallucinations and delusions. An example of a psychotic disorder is schizophrenia.

Trauma and Stress Related Disorders

It is common in people who have experienced a disaster or trauma like hurricane ,earthquakes, war , terrorist attack ,accident , physical abuse ,etc. People have extreme disturbances and feelings and often feel that they are reliving those past experiences .

Depression is the most common mental health issue found in adults and the major cause of disability. Suicide is the leading cause of death among the youth. This can be stopped and this has to stop.

Early Warning Signs

The following can be a symptom of mental health issue:

· Eating or sleeping too much or too little

· Refraining from people and general activities

· Feeling low or no energy

· Feeling numb or indifferent to anything

· Having unexplained aches and pains

· Feeling helpless or hopeless

· Smoking, drinking, or using drugs

· All sorts of extreme feeling at same time like confused, forgetful, angry, upset, worried, or scared

· Yelling or fighting with family and friends

· Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships

· Persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head

· Refraining from reality

· Thinking of harming yourself or others

· Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

Treatment

The methods of treatment for mental health conditions are highly subjective. There cannot be a single method which works on every person. A multiple set of methods have been found very effective in treatment of such disorders. We should seek professional help from a psychiatrist or doctor who can help us with the most appropriate method of treatment.We should consult a doctor just as we do for other health issues and should not act on ourselves.

Psychotherapy, or talking therapies

It is used for treating various emotional illnesses and mental illnesses. Generally , this kind of treatment is done by psychiatrists and psychotherapists. This method helps in identifying the root cause problem and then resolving them.It helps in coping with daily life problems or traumas like loss of loved one ,etc. This induces a positive approach in life which helps in overcoming isolation and self-harm.

Medication

Various drugs such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytic drugs can help upto some extent in coping with mental health disorders. These drugs boost the absorption of various chemicals like serotonin, that cause a feeling of happiness in an individual. These drugs also prevent the degradation of these chemicals. Although these drugs may be helpful up to some extent but it is not the sole cure to mental illness. These drugs should be taken only on the advice of a doctor.

Self-help

The most important step in bringing about a change is the willingness to bring about a change. We should make some changes in our lifestyle to move towards a life with good mental and physical health. People should have a proper diet, enough sleep and avoid drinking and smoking. Various methods like deep breathing and meditation bring a positive vibe in life. People should avoid isolation and try to be social and should discuss their problems with family and friends. Being part of self help groups can turn out very essential in overcoming mental illness.

Suicide prevention

A person with self-destructive behavior or very pessimistic may be suicidal. We should try to help them early if we can. If someone is at immediate risk of life or trying to harm himself/herself , we can motivate them but we should let them speak and listen very patiently without judging them. We should remove any harmful objects from their possession. We should not leave the person alone until professional help arrives.

OUR BEHAVIOUR WITH PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS

Some people have adverse impact on their thinking ability and intelligence due to mental illness. They become aggressive at times. But all they need is a little affection. We should be very patient and calm while dealing with them. We should never forget that they are also human beings ,a beautiful creation of god.