In its most literal sense, mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. It is a mental state that allows people to cope with life’s stresses, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.
More than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities, mental health is a state of mind. It is also concerned with how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
Taking care of your mental health entails managing current conditions and ensuring long-term wellness and happiness. It also emphasizes the importance of preserving and restoring mental health on an individual, community, and societal level.
Everyone, regardless of age, gender, income, or ethnicity, is at risk of having or developing a mental health disorder in today’s world.
A mental health condition can be triggered by various factors, including social, financial, trauma, childhood experiences, biological factors, and sometimes genetics.
Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia disorders are some of the most common mental health disorders in today’s world. And if not diagnosed or treated promptly, they can lead to dangerous situations that endanger the person suffering from the problem and those around them.
There are many techniques and procedures for managing mental health issues, and treatment is highly individualized because what works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, a patient dealing with such diseases or mental health issues has to work closely with a physician who can assist them in identifying their needs and provide appropriate and efficient therapy.
Treatment methods for mental disorders may include psychotherapy, medication, and self-help.
There are various taboos or myths about mental health disorders, such as a person with a mental health condition having low intelligence, people with mental health conditions being dangerous, violent, and unpredictable, psychiatric medications being harmful, mental health conditions not affecting strong people, bad parenting causing adolescents to have mental health conditions, people with mental health needs being unable to keep and perform well in a job, and so on. However, all of the above statements are simply myths or taboos. Because of these taboos and myths, people suffering from mental health conditions are often secretive about their state of mind, depriving themselves of proper and timely treatment and worsening their condition.
Despite being widespread, mental health illnesses come in a range of severity. With the proper care and access to resources, most people can control their symptoms and enjoy active lives. But for other people, treatment may not solve the issue; instead, they may only be able to learn how to live with their condition and develop control over it.
Mental health awareness is essential for reducing the prevalence of this rapidly spreading condition. And many individuals and government agencies have worked tirelessly on this. Mental health awareness is an ongoing effort to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and mental health conditions by sharing our personal experiences. Talking openly about your mental health struggles and asking for and genuinely listening to your family and friends’ responses can encourage them to speak up about their symptoms and emotions and possibly seek help.
This month of October- Let’s support one another.
“What mental health needs are more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.”-Glenn Close.