Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.Many factors contribute to mental health conditions, including:

• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems

Mental health conditions include:

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Anxiety disorders(including generalized anxiety, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and social anxiety)
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar mental health topics include:
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and social anxiety)
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Depression
• Eating disorders (including Anorexia Nervosa, binge eating disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Self-harm
• Suicide and suicidal behavior disorder

A Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is a mental illness that interferes with a person’s life and ability to function.Early Warning Signs & Symptoms

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school.

Living Well with a Mental Health Condition

Stick to a treatment plan.Learn about the condition.Practice good self-care.Reach out to family and friends.Develop coping skills.Get enough sleep.

Mental health care and treatment

national efforts to strengthen mental health, it is vital to not only protect and promote the mental well-being of all but also to address the needs of people with mental health conditions.This should be done through community-based mental health care, which is more accessible and acceptable than institutional care, helps prevent human rights violations, and delivers better recovery outcomes for people with mental health conditions. Community-based mental health care should be provided through a network of interrelated services that comprise:

• mental health services that are integrated with general health care, typically in general hospitals and through task-sharing with non-specialist care providers in primary health care.
• community mental health services that may involve community mental health centers and teams, psychosocial rehabilitation, peer support services, and supported living services; and
• services that deliver mental health care in social services and non-health settings, such as child protection, school health services, and prisons.

The vast care gap for common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety means countries must also find innovative ways to diversify and scale up care for these conditions, for example through non-specialist psychological counseling or digital self-help.

Anxiety disorders

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness.People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety related to certain objects or situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder try to avoid exposure to whatever triggers their anxiety.some examples of anxiety disorders.

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry or fear that disrupts everyday living.People may also experience physical symptoms, including:

• restlessness
• fatigue
• poor concentration
• tense muscles
• interrupted sleep

Phobias

There are different types of phobia:

• Simple phobias: These may involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects, scenarios, or animals. A fear of spiders is a typical example.
• Social phobia: Sometimes known as social anxiety, this is a fear of being subject to the judgment of others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social environments.
• Agoraphobia: This term refers to a fear of situations where getting away may be difficult, such as being in an elevator or a moving train. Many people misunderstand this phobia as the fear of being outside.

OCD

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have obsessions and compulsions. In other words, they experience constant, stressful thoughts and a powerful urge to perform repetitive acts, such as handwashing.

PTSD

PTSD can occur after a person experiences or witnesses an intensely stressful or traumatic event. During this type of event, the person thinks that their life or other people’s lives are in danger. They may feel afraid or that they have no control over what is happening.These sensations of trauma and fear may then contribute to PTSD.

Mood disorders

• Major depression: An individual with major depression experiences a constant low mood and loses interest in activities and events that they previously enjoyed (anhedonia). They can feel prolonged periods of sadness or extreme sadness.
• Bipolar disorder: A person with bipolar disorder experiences unusual changes Trusted Source in their mood, energy levels, levels of activity, and ability to continue with daily life. Periods of high mood are known as manic phases, while depressive phases bring on low mood. Read more about the different types of bipolar here.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Reduced daylight during the fall, winter, and early spring months triggers this type of major depression Trusted Source. It is most common in countries far from the equator.

Schizophrenia disorders

According to the NIMH, signs of schizophrenia typically develop between the ages of 16 and 30. The individual will have thoughts that appear fragmented and may also find it hard to process information.Schizophrenia has negative and positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include delusions, thought disorders, and hallucinations, while withdrawal, lack of motivation, and a flat or inappropriate mood are examples of negative symptoms.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a mental health disorder requires a multi-step process. A doctor may begin by looking at a person’s medical history and performing a thorough physical exam to rule out physical conditions or issues that may be causing the symptoms. They will also do a psychological evaluation. This includes asking about a person’s symptoms, experiences, and how these have impacted their lives. Sometimes, the doctor may ask a person to fill out mental health questionnaires to get an idea about a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns.Most mental health specialists use the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to make a diagnosis.

Treatment

There are various methods for managing mental health problems. Treatment is highly individual, and what works for one person may not work for another.Some strategies or treatments are more successful in combination with others. A person with a chronic mental disorder may choose different options at various stages in their life.The individual needs to work closely with a doctor who can help them identify their needs and provide suitable treatment.Below are some treatment options for people with mental ill health.Psychotherapy, or talking therapies.This type of treatment takes a psychological approach to treating mental illness. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy are examples.Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and some primary care physicians carry out this treatment.It can help people understand the root of their mental illness and start to work on more healthful thought patterns that support everyday living and reduce the risk of isolation and self-harm.

Medication

Some people take prescribed medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytic drugs.

Self-help

A person coping with mental health difficulties may need to change their lifestyle to facilitate wellness.Such changes can include reducing alcohol intake, sleeping more, and eating a balanced, nutritious diet. People may need to take time away from work or resolve issues with personal relationships that may be causing damage to their mental health.People with conditions such as anxiety or depressive disorder may benefit from relaxation techniques, which include deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness.Having a support network, whether via self-help groups or close friends and family, can also be essential to recovery from mental illness.