Mental Health

Overview

Mental health is a basic human right. It is also essential for individual, community and socioeconomic development.

Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. It exists on a complex continuum, experienced differently by different people, with varying degrees of difficulty and distress, and with potentially very different social and clinical consequences.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects our thoughts, feelings and actions. It also helps you decide how to manage stress, interact with others, and make healthy choices.

Why is mental health important?

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk of many types of physical health problems, especially long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic illnesses can increase the risk of mental illness. 

What causes mental illness?

There is no single cause of mental illness. Many factors can contribute to the risk of mental illness, including:

1.Adverse early life experiences such as a history of trauma or abuse (e.g., child abuse, witnessing violence, etc.)

2.Experience with ongoing (chronic) diseases such as cancer or diabetes

3.Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain

4.Ingestion of alcohol or drugs

5.Feeling lonely or isolated

Types of Mental Health disorders

Certain mental disorders are grouped together based on common characteristics. Types of mental illness include:

1.Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, according to the American Anxiety-Depression Association.

People with these disorders experience intense fears and anxieties about certain objects and situations. Most people with anxiety disorders try to avoid being exposed to things that cause them anxiety.

Examples of anxiety disorders are:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Panic Disorder

Phobias

obsessive-compulsive disorder

2.Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are sometimes called mood disorders or depressive disorders.

People with these disorders usually have significant mood swings, including either mania, periods of high energy and elation, or depression.

Examples of mood disorders include:

Major Depression

Bipolar Disorders

Seasonal Affective disorders

3.Schizophrenia 

The term schizophrenia often refers to a range of disorders characterized by psychotic features and other severe symptoms. These are very complicated conditions.

According to the NIMH, symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin between the ages of 16 and 30. The person may have fragmented thinking and may have difficulty processing information.

Schizophrenia has negative and positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include delusions, thought disorders, and hallucinations, while negative symptoms include withdrawal, lethargy, and a flat or inappropriate mood.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a mental disorder requires a multistep process. Doctors begin by taking a person’s medical history and doing a thorough physical examination to rule out any physical conditions or problems that may be causing symptoms.

There is no medical test that can diagnose mental disorders. However, doctors may do a series of laboratory tests, such as imaging tests and blood tests, to look for other potential causes.

We also do a psychological test. This includes asking about the patient’s symptoms and experiences and how they have affected their life. Your doctor may ask you to complete a mental health questionnaire to get an overview of your thoughts, feelings, and behavioural patterns.

Treatment

There are many different ways to treat mental health problems. Treatment is highly individual and what works for one person may not work for another.

Some strategies and treatments are more effective when combined with others. People with chronic mental disorders may make different choices at different stages of life.

Below are some treatment options for people with mental illness.

1.Physcotherapy

This type of therapy employs a psychological approach to treating mental illness. It can help people understand the roots of mental illness, support their daily lives, and work on healthier thought patterns that reduce the risk of isolation and self-harm.

 

2.Medication

Some people take prescription drugs such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety drugs.

Although these mental disorders cannot be cured, some medications can improve symptoms and help people resume social interactions and normal activities while working on their mental health.

3.Self-help

Those dealing with mental health issues may need to make lifestyle changes to promote well-being.

Such changes may include reducing alcohol consumption, getting more sleep, and eating a balanced and nutritious diet.

Facts about Mental Health

1.Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, income, or social status.

2.It’s true that teens often have mood swings, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have mental health issues. Half of all mental illnesses start before the age of 14.

3.Bipolar cycles last for weeks to months and do not change as quickly as people’s moods change frequently.

4.Bipolar cycles last for weeks to months and do not change as quickly as people’s moods change frequently.

5.People with mental illness can work in supportive workplaces that specifically support and promote mental health.

Conclusion

Poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person may have poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Similarly, a person diagnosed with a mental illness may experience well-being physically, mentally, and socially.