Mental Health – Where is Mental Health Help Available?
There is no doubt that mental health problems are common and can have a profound effect on a person’s life. But not everyone gets the help they need to get better.
This is because people still have a stigma surrounding mental health. They fear letting someone know that they’re suffering from a mental illness or addiction.
Causes
Mental health problems are caused by a mix of factors, including genetics, how your brain works, how you grew up, your environment, your social group and your life experience. They can also be triggered by stress, trauma and abuse in childhood or adulthood.
Some people are more at risk of developing mental illness than others. They may be more likely to have a family member with a mental illness, and they are more prone to stressful or traumatic events such as poverty, domestic violence and social isolation.
Symptoms can range from sudden and dramatic changes in mood to more subtle signs such as being tearful all the time or having trouble thinking straight. They can come and go throughout your life, so it’s important to know what to look out for if you have any symptoms that are unusual or distressing.
Mental health problems are caused by a mix or causes, including genetics, how your brain works, your environment, your social group and your culture. They can also be triggered by stress, famine, obstetric birth complications or infection during pregnancy.
Symptoms
Mental health problems can show up as subtle changes to a person’s mood, thinking and behavior. If these changes become more severe and persist, they may be a sign that someone needs help.
A person may start avoiding friends, family and activities that used to bring them joy. They might also have a hard time understanding others and become extremely irritable.
People with mental illness often have trouble sleeping. They might sleep too much or too little, or have a change in their sleeping patterns.
Other symptoms can include a drop in functioning at work, school or social activities. They might have problems with thinking, a problem remembering things or they might have an irrational belief that they can understand others’ feelings or manipulate events.
Early treatment can minimize or delay symptoms, prevent hospitalization and improve prognosis. It can also help someone with mental illness learn how to manage their condition. Some treatments include medication, therapy and other supportive strategies.
Treatment
Mental health is a key part of your overall health. It shapes how you think, feel and behave, as well as how you cope with stress.
If you are suffering from a mental illness, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. It can help you get back on your feet and lead a better life.
Your healthcare provider may recommend a range of treatments, including psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”) and medication. These often work best together.
The first step is to see a GP who can assess your situation and suggest treatment options. They can also help refer you to a mental health professional.
There are many types of psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. These can help you learn how to improve your thinking, behaviour and relationships. They are available in community and hospital settings. They can take up to months to have the best results.
Prevention
Mental health problems can be difficult to treat, but they can also be prevented. Taking care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising regularly can help to prevent mental illness.
A person’s risk of developing mental health problems is influenced by genetics, environmental exposures and life events. These factors can affect your mood, thinking and behavior.
There are three ways to prevent mental health problems: primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention.
The first method is called primary prevention and focuses on influencing the behaviours, habits and environments that people adopt in their everyday lives to decrease their risk of becoming mentally unwell. This can include promoting healthy diets, regular exercise and social connections with other people.
The second approach is called secondary prevention and aims at detecting mental health disorders before they become too serious. This is often done by screening patients. This can prevent a mental health disorder from progressing to full-blown symptoms, which can be much more severe and require long-term treatment.
