Mental health is a term used in reference to a person's emotional and psychological well-being. Mental health problems may include serious depression, anxiety, hallucinations, violent behavior or suicidal thoughts. A person with a serious mental health problem is unable to cope adequately with life and cannot be coaxed into 'snapping out of it'.
Approximately 60 million people in the United States experience mental health problems each year. One in seventeen lives with serious mental health conditions and less than a third seek treatment. Here are five reasons why you should learn about mental health.
The first step in fighting mental illness is education. Mental health problems, as stated above, are common. If you learn about symptoms and warning signs and familiarize yourself with different diagnoses and treatments you will be better able to cope with any mental health issues that arise in your life or in the lives of those people you care about. Early identification is the key to recovery. Mental health treatment can involve a combination of medication and therapy. Diet, exercise, sleep and social support also plays a role in recovery. Being able to recognize the symptoms of various mental health problems is crucial in the early identification and subsequent treatment of any mental health problem.
Mental health awareness and subsequent treatment reduces medical costs. Numerous studies have shown that when people seek mental health care, their use of medical services declines. People with untreated mental health problems visit a medical doctor twice as often as people who receive care for their mental health problems.
Untreated mental health issues negatively affect one's overall health. Excessive anxiety and stress can greatly contribute to physical problems including, high blood pressure, heart disease and ulcers. Living under the strain of anxiety and stress can also weaken the immune system - making people much more vulnerable to all types of physical ailments ranging from the common cold to cancer. Improving your understanding of mental illness is the most effective way of battling stigma towards those who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Mental illness can be very hard for some people to understand which can very easily lead to prejudice and discrimination. People who have friends or family members with mental illnesses benefit from learning about mental health because it helps them to understand the causes of the problem and the suitable treatment options available.
Just as people can have physical problems, so can they have mental health problems. It is very important that we as a society accept this fact and teach our children from a young age that not feeling well psychologically or emotionally is 'OK' and that there is help available. Mental illness is a part of life as millions of people are affected each year. Education is the key to bringing mental health issues out of the shadows. De-stigmatizing mental health problems will help those who suffer from emotional and psychological problems in getting the help they need so that they can lead healthy and happy lives.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire