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.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |