Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness

According to WHO -

''Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community. It has intrinsic and instrumental value and is a basic human right.''

And,

''A mental disorder (illness) is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour.  It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.''

In a simple sense, we all have mental health, regardless of our age or gender. But not everyone has good mental health. This eventually turns into a mental illness or disorder.

For example, at all ages, we feel happiness, joy, sadness, fear, anger, shame, and so on. But when the fear, anger, stress, etc of emotions become harmful for us and our surroundings, when they control us instead of us controlling them, that can be classified as illness.

I believe psychology and mental health are as complex and interesting as astrophysics! Amazingly interesting and a bottomless pit at the same time! This is probably why I am drawn to both of these topics!

Data:

- According to Mind UK, in the UK, 1 in 4 people experiences mental illness every year.

- APA shows that many people who are suffering from mental health issues are outside the diagnosis radar.

- Mental Health Foundation revealed among 79% of UK adults feel overstressed each month.

- The World Health Organisation confirmed that each year, almost 280 million people suffer from some kind of mental health issue.

Some examples of mental illness are;

PTSD -

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, affects at least 3% of the UK population each year (According to the NHS).

When we go through some traumatic events or experiences in life, whether short-term or long-term, later on in life, we can get really triggered by those traumas. As a result of it, nightmares, flashbacks, etc., can occur.

PTSD can affect anyone of any age.

Anxiety and Stress -

Anxiety involves excessive worry and fear, which can lead to physical symptoms like breathlessness, sweating, heart palpitations, etc. Leading people to seek professional help to manage their symptoms so they can function.

Stress can also be described like this, but it is not solely a mental illness; it can definitely lead to it. A little stress can be very useful, but when it becomes long-term and hampers day-to-day life, it becomes lethal.

Depression -

Depression is something I can explain from my personal experience. It is difficult to explain to someone who has never truly experienced it.

It is like you don’t know what the emotions of joy and happiness mean. A void inside, you’re lost and okay being lost in it!

We all feel sad from time to time. But when this sadness or low mood makes you feel like you don’t even understand the meaning of joy or happiness, that is depression. A sad face doesn’t always mean depression. A smiley face can mask depression very well, better than anyone sometimes.

Getting out of bed, brushing your hair, day after day, feels as hard as moving a mountain. Losing interest in your favourite things feels okay. And the embarrassment of not being able to do so, being labeled as lazy, works like salt on a fresh wound. Depression needs treatment, not just motivational speech.

Schizophrenia -

An alarming NHS report says that worldwide, 1 in every 100 people experiences symptoms of schizophrenia.

This illness highly affects thoughts, behaviour, perception of reality, may make hearing voices or cause delusion.

Most patients of schizophrenia are victims of extreme trauma, not violent, definitely not how the media or movies portray schizophrenia.

Overall, mental health and mental illness are something everyone should have some basic knowledge of. It is a positive thing that the awareness of mental health problems is rising, far better than how it was treated historically, inhumanely for centuries.