As per some research, mental illnesses impact approximately 19% of the adult population, 46% of teens and 13% of minors every year. People struggling with mental health issues can be anyone around you such as a family member, an acquaintance, a colleague, a person living next door, or just a friend. However, out of so many struggling only halves of the affected people receive treatment, the rest remain deprived mostly because of the stigma attached to mental health. Untreated, mental illness can cause poorer focus and performance at school and work, isolation and an increased risk of suicide. What Exactly is a Mental Illness? A mental illness can be considered a physical illness of the brain due to brain chemical imbalance that causes trouble thinking, changed behaviour, low energy or feeling emotionally overwhelmed. A person with mental illness or mental health problems feels it difficult to manage the everyday needs of life. Researches indicate that the causes of such illnesses can be genetics, bad brain chemistry, brain structure, trauma and/or a major health condition, like heart disease. In all over the world, the two most common mental health disorders are -
Anxiety – Anxiety impacts more than 18% of adults each year. Post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobias are some common types of anxiety disorders that most people struggle with. Mood Disorders – Depression and bipolar depression are the most common types of mood disorders, that affect nearly 10% of adults each year and are marked by complications in regulating one’s mood. Although the general understanding of mental illness has improved over the past few years yet as per some studies, the stigma attached to the mental illness is still powerful, mostly due to a lack of awareness and education. People tend to attach negative stigmas to mental health conditions at a far higher rate than other physical health conditions and disabilities. The aim of celebrating May as mental health awareness month every year is just a small step and there is a lot needed to be done to create awareness about mental health. Stigma and misinformation are the two biggest obstacles for people struggling with a mental health conditions. Here are a few tips to help such people:
If there is someone around you, who needs help, you can help them find a therapist nearby or suggest them to book an online counselling session with a counselor that allows them to talk to a counselor right from there home in private and confidential mode.
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In March 2020, the world got struck by a pandemic which is still impacting everyone's life in one way or another. It has been two years now, we still are seeing the impact of COVID 19, not just in our day-to-day lives, but also on our mental wellbeing. If we learned something very important in the past two years, is that we cannot take our fitness and health for granted, and that also includes mental health. Pandemic has made people feel anxious and more anxious who already have anxiety. Situations like self-isolation, lockdown and compulsion to maintain social distancing have made people feel lonely and depressed. But due to the pandemic people are also becoming more aware of taking care of themselves, their health and mental health. People nowadays are taking steps to take care of their physical and emotional health and make it the best of their ability. How to take care of your mental health? Prioritizing your mental health like your physical health is very important. Practising self-care is a great way to take care of yourself. Here are some tips to take good care of your physical and mental health -
Why is Self-care important Self-care is not selfish, taking care of yourself is important
It is important to have a regular check on your mental health and be aware of how your mental health is. It can be done using some online mental health assessments that include some questions related to your emotions and thoughts you feel throughout the day. These mental health screening tests are prepared by professional therapists and psychologists and are free of cost. Mental Health Awareness Month The United States has observed May as Mental Health Awareness Month to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and to encourage people to seek help who need it desperately. Often people keep ignoring mental health and emotional health issues due to the shame and embarrassment which is why it is necessary to have open conversations about mental health and break the stigma. If you need help, but afraid of visiting a therapist due to the stigma or fear of pandemic, online counselling allows you to connect with a counselor right from you home. The only thing you need an internet enabled device like mobile or computer to connect on a video call with the counselor, however you can also talk to a therapist on phone call. On call or online consultation in the digital era is also known as telehealth, and is a very convenient way to seek help whenever you need it. |