The importance of Mental Health Awareness has been increasingly growing across the globe. However, it has not yet reached the level where it is supposed to be. It is time to stop stigma Rethink Mental Health Problems. Above all, we need to focus on positive mental health, understanding mental health illnesses and how illness impacts individuals.
Being treated for any type of mental illness is still considered a social stigma, and often looked upon as a “degrading event”. Most often individuals hide from others any information related to their problem on their health. They refrain to approach medical help for any type of mental disorders. As a result their health is worsens.
For example:
If we broke our arm and went to work, we can talk about the broken arm. how the X-ray happened? what the nurse said? how long we waited at the hospital to see a doctor?
However, If we have a mental health problem, we usually avoid any conversation around our health.
Changing Stigma
We as a general public, educational institution, organisation, parents, friends, relatives can make remarkable changes to this public opinion and apathy towards mental illness. Most importantly, we can help our community, turn their attitude from negative to positive towards mental health awareness.
Disease Burden
Mental illness is not only a social issue but is one of the third largest disease burdens that Australia is facing today. As per WHO, in developed countries, only around 50% of people get the medical attention for mental illness. In developing countries, around 90% of the population literally struggles with getting medical attention for mental health. People often do not realise that mental health is as important as their physical health.
Physical Health
Never the less, maintaining good health and wellbeing is as important as maintaining physical health. Serious medical conditions and disorders like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, chronic skin diseases. They are considered to be the result of mental disorders. Similarly, some chronic diseases can result in mental illness.
Mental Illness
Mental illness consists of our emotional, psychological and social well-being. When individuals health is affected, the person can suffer from a variety of mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and substance use problems. These disorders can be either acute or chronic.
Mental health
Consists of our overall well-being related to emotional, psychological, and social aspects. any changes in mental health represent our thinking, feeling, and how we respond to them. It also determines balance for our mind. Such as, the way how we handle stress and work under stressful situations and the way we make healthy choices for all aspects of our life.
Above all, it is a vital factor at every stage of our life from childhood, adolescence, middle-age, or to old age. Mental illness can occur at any age. There is no single cause for mental illness. Several factors can contribute to the risk for mental illness, such as earlier traumatic experiences in the life, history of mental or physical abuse, violence, sexual assault, chronic medical conditions. Most importantly, the people diagnosed with mental health can get well with counselling and treatment.
In conclusion, early detection and early support can enhance relief and recovery from mental illnesses.
Early signs of deteriorating mental health
If someone is suffering from one or more of the below feelings, he or she must consult a medical professional.
- Eating less and sleeping less
- Staying reserved and away from people and social network
- Feeling of low or no energy
- Feeling numb
- Body ache and unexplained aches and pains
- General feeling of helplessness and hopelessness
- Addictions like smoking, alcohol, and drugs
- Confusion, forgetfulness, irritation, agitation, fear, or phobia
- Shouting and confrontation with friends and families
- Extremes of mood swings resulting in upset relationships
- Recurrent and chronic thoughts and illusion
- Hears strange voices or believing in things that are not genuine
- Thoughts of causing harm to other people
- Feeling of loneliness and isolation
- Inability to perform normal routine tasks like going to work or to school.
Way to Enable Positive Mental Health
Apart from seeking professional medical help, below are the ways to enable people to maintain positive health.
- Maintaining positive social relationships
- Positive attitude
- Keeping one physically active and sociable
- Supporting others
- Having enough sleep
- Developing various hobbies and skills
- Physical Exercise
- Meditation
Therefore, all parents, teachers, mentors, supervisors, managers should be educated on diagnosing the earlier signs of mental ill health and providing necessary support.
WHS and Training Compliance Solutions provide Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). MHFA and YMHFA is a powerful tool, can assist in lessen the number of youth and adults suffering from mental distress. To learn more about Youth Mental Health and Standard Mental Health First Aid, you can visit our website at whsandtrainingcompliance.com.au or give us a call at 07 5499 2406. We can call you in for a consultation or enlist in one of our MHFA courses.
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