The Signs & Importance of Recognizing Mental Health Issues
Mental Health | Mental Illness | Causes | Common Types | Preventive Measures
In the United States alone, mental health issues remain a significant cause for concern with the number of people affected increasing annually. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in five adults has experienced at least one mental health issue in a given year-making prevention and treatment a significant public health issue and a threat to overall health.
Mental health awareness is a necessity, as countries focus on providing provisions and possible prevention initiatives to those affected. The cause for mental health issues oftentimes are multifactorial and include elements related to socioeconomics. Stressful and traumatic life experiences may be a trigger such as a history of abuse, concurrent experience with a serious medical condition, loneliness and isolation, or use of drugs and alcohol. There may also be neurochemical imbalances in the brain that contribute to mental illness. The Covid Pandemic could have been named the “pandemic of loneliness” because it socially isolated many Americans as well as left numerous grieving from the loss of a loved one that succumbed to the virus.
Even though this is an age where mental illness is discussed more among social media platforms and there are many more resources available for help, there still remains a social stigma, especially in developing countries. Indeed, there may be repercussions and discrimination directed at an individual by not only society but also by their friends and family members, further impacting quality of life.
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health involves an individual’s emotional, spiritual, psychological and social well-being. It affects an individual’s perspective, decision – making skills, and interpersonal relationships.
Why Is Mental Health Important?
Psychological well-being is as important as physical health. Depression may potentially increase one’s risk for Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and/or strokes or even vice- versa. Chronic illnesses may spur depressive and anxious states. An estimated 30 percent of those living with a serious, life changing chronic illness will experience symptoms of depression.
Nubian Doc with its 8-week health plan not only focuses on physical health, but its healthy food recipes and exercise plans help its consumers with mental health as well.
Summary: Mental health refers to an individual’s expressive, and psychological well-being and affects their ability to engage and interact with the world. 1 in 5 Americans are affected annually making it a significant health issue.
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness or a ‘mental health disorder’ consists of an extensive range of conditions- most of which affect a person’s temperament, conduct, and sense of well-being. Some examples of psychological disorders include commonly depression, social anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders. More complex disorders can include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, body dysmorphic disorder, and personality disorders.
A lot of people can be affected by psychological issues (such as stress or anxiety) from time to time, but a chronic psychological condition becomes an illness, with lasting signs and indicators such as recurrent anxiety or depression that disrupts your ability to work or function in everyday life.
A ‘psychological illness’ may be managed solo or in combination with psychotherapy and medication.
What Are Some Common Mental Illness Symptoms?
Mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Some examples of these are:
- Feeling upset or frustrated for no reason
- Persistent sadness, low mood
- Confused thought processes, inability to focus, brain fog, forgetfulness
- Unnecessary doubts, suspicions, fears
- Sudden mood or temper changes (highs and lows)
- Reduced interest in self hobbies and withdrawal from friends and family
- Low energy, substantial fatigue or difficulty sleeping
- Delusions, paranoia, auditory or visual hallucinations
- Incapability to manage everyday issues or stress
- Difficulty in accepting circumstances or coping with regular problems/stressors
- Problems with alcohol or drug use that impact functioning
- Extreme irritation, aggression or ferocity
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Changes in eating habits such as loss of appetite or “emotional” eating
- Becoming impulsive or having chronic anxiety
Occasionally, symptoms of ‘psychological distress’ can move into becoming physical manifestations, such as abdominal pain, headache and pain in other areas of the body.
Summary: Mental health disorders include a variety of conditions-many of which impact an individual’s overall quality of life. Some symptoms of individuals experiencing mental stress may include depressed mood, withdrawal from social interactions and self medication with alcohol and other substances.
Well known Mental Disorders
Mental health disorders may present in different ways, making illness difficult to recognize but there are some typical classic features. Let’s discuss a few:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Eating disorders
Depression
Depression may include the symptoms of low mood, change in appetite or weight, low energy, poor concentration, thoughts of worthlessness or guilt, and recurrent thoughts of suicide. Symptom severity may be mild to severe and therefore some individuals may function well with activities of daily living and others this may be a significant challenge. After resolution of a major depressive episode there may be potential for recurrence.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are defined by excessive worry, nervousness, and irrational fear that causes significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. Panic disorders include actual episodes of panic attacks which involve physical symptoms precipitated by extreme fears. These episodes are sudden in onset and may typically involve sweating, shaking, tremors, chest tightness/pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fear of losing control or of dying.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is often times a chronic continuous or recurrent/relapsing disorder resulting often times in significant social impairments impacting interactions in relationships and employment. It is oftentimes the most disabling because it presents with an individual having delusions and disordered thinking that distort reality. It also may result in an individual experiencing hallucination. Less than 1 percent of the US population is affected and often begins in early adulthood. Males are mainly affected.
Eating Disorders
People typically think of anorexia or bulimia but binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder. This is defined by eating an amount of food in a discrete time frame that is larger than most people would consume under similar circumstances. These episodes typically occur once a week for several months and are associated with a lack of control and distress over one’s eating habits. Those with the disorder may have some social impairments such as fear of eating in public, hoarding food in strange places, frequent dieting plans, and having extreme concerns about their body appearance and weight.
Summary: Some of the most recognized mental health disorders include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and eating disorders.
Is there a Test or Self-Assessment for Mental Health?
Talking with a health professional like your primary care doctor, a psychologist or psychiatrist can be helpful in assessing one’s symptoms. Even though there are quizzes and assessments online that are designed to help identify some of your symptoms, they don’t come with the guarantee of being absolutely correct. Online quizzes are also not all-inclusive, therefore a meeting with a health care professional is highly recommended.
What Are the Treatment Options?
Individuals that are identified with mental health disorders usually do well with separate or group treatment plans, or a combination of both. Not all treatments work for everybody-therefore one must find what works best for their own specific needs.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is the most sought-after treatment for mental illness, which consists of ‘talking sessions’ with a trained mental health professional. Psychotherapy is known to explore opinions, emotions and actions, and pursues the progress of an individual’s well-being.
In more moderate to severe cases, psychotherapy is paired with medication to ensure a smooth recovery back to the individual’s normal state. Examples of psychotherapy include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy (ET) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
How to Seek Help or Reach Out to a Friend
A lot of people are unsure of how to reach out for help, or help someone who is in need of support. Oftentimes the easiest way to get help is to talk to your family doctor but for someone that doesn’t have access the first option is to reach out online with a mental health resource network like NAMI (national alliance on mental illness) which provides access to resources that help one find a provider. Also, virtual health via online telemedicine visits make access to care even easier and there are multiple platforms that offer this as an option.
Summary: Treatment options that are most sought-after for mental health illnesses include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and talk therapy. Receiving assistance and support during your journey towards mental health recovery can make it remarkably easier.
How to Support a Family Member or Friend Experiencing Mental Illness
If a friend or loved one is showing signs or symptoms of mental health illness, or they are trying to reach out for help, here is how you can support:
- Listening to them, expressing concern and being responsive when they talk about their problems
- Figuring out if they’re getting care or assistance, connecting them with a health care professional
- Reassuring them that you care about them
- Offering to help them with daily life activities, validating their feelings instead of toxic positivity
- Reminding them that mental health illnesses are treatable
- Educating others around them about how they should also offer support and not discriminate
- Empathy, compassion and respect
How to Start a Conversation About Mental Health
Some people find it difficult to talk about mental health issues and may be hesitant if they don’t find the supportive words that they are looking for. Here are a few questions you can lead with, to make sure your family or friends feel comfortable talking about their mental state:
- It seems that you are going through a difficult time, can I help you in finding support?
- I am here for you, what do you need my help with?
- I am concerned about you; do you want to talk about what you’re going through?
- Are you comfortable discussing this with someone else, like a professional?
- Can I help in finding you information about different mental health problems?
- I am someone who loves you and cares for you, do you want to talk about what you’re feeling?
- Has anyone helped you overcome similar problems in the past?
- Do you want to open up about your feelings, so I can help you in sorting out your issues?
WORD OF CAUTION
When talking about a mental health issue, make sure that:
- The person you are discussing with is comfortable and feels safe
- You speak at a level appropriate for the person’s age; children need fewer details than teenagers or adults
- The person’s reactions are kept in mind during the discussion, so you can slow down or stop if they feel confused or upset
Summary: You can offer your support to a loved one suffering from a mental health issue by expressing your concern for them and validating their feelings. Have a discussion with the individual at a level appropriate for their age, and make sure that they feel safe and comfortable.
Mental Health Issue or Physical Health Issue?
It is sometimes helpful to make a comparison between physical and mental health to make sure that what you experience is not just a physical symptom in passing. As an example, a lot of people might fall sick with a cold and sore throat from time to time, but only a handful would get seriously ill with pneumonia. People with a common cold may be able to carry on with everyday tasks, while someone who has pneumonia will have to take medicine and may even have to visit the hospital if things worsen.
Likewise, feeling sad, worried, anxious or irritable is common for most people and often not something to worry about. However, when these feelings become intense and persist for a longer period of time, it may be a sign of a mental health illness that may need treatment.
Bottom Line: Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues can cause disruptions in thinking patterns, behavior, performance, decisions and emotions. It is difficult for an individual to cope with everyday activities, and a majority of people are still hesitant in asking for help due to the stigma around mental health discussions.
Although mental health awareness has increased over the years, it still continues to affect millions of people around the world who choose to suffer in silence rather than appearing ‘mentally weak’.
For starters, you can support your loved ones experiencing mental issues by showing respect and acceptance, and validating their feelings and emotions. Further, advocating for mental health problems within our circle of influence would help those who are wanting to reach out for support or therapy.
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