GOOD MENTAL HEALTH               

      According to the World Health Organization, "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". If you are to break this down, this well-being includes emotional, psychological, and social. It impacts on everything about us, beginning from how we think, feel, act, and react. In my own word, mental health is the overall cognitive function of the human mind. Whatever affects the mind (positive or negative) affects our mental balance (either positively or negatively)

Importance of mental health.

Mental health is very important in every stage of life, be it childhood, adolescent, or adulthood. A lot of processing goes on in the mind and any tilt towards left or right definitely affect the whole being. So, when the mind is positively affected, you see positive response, actions, and reactions. But, when it is negatively affected, the opposite is the case.

You can not separate the mind from the body, so also, our physical and mental health can’t be separated. What affect our mental health invariably affect or lead to physical health issues. Also, when there is physical health challenge, it could result to mental health issues if not taken care of.

 

Causes of Metal health degeneration

There are so many factors that could contribute to a mental health problem. However, having some of the factors does not necessarily mean a person is having mental health issues. This is where the ability to withstand such factors and still be able to cope with life and contribute to his or her community varies from person to person.

Major Causes:

• Stress of life
• Trauma
• Drug abuse
• Poverty
• Loneliness/ Isolation
• Chronic medical conditions
• Alcohol abuse

Let us take them one after the other.

 

STRESS OF LIFE

Stress is not new to the human body. I will go with the World health Organization (WHO) definition, it states, “Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree.” We all don’t respond to stressful situations the same way, while some can handle their stressful situation well, others allow that situation to have adverse effect on them, making them become chronic stress sufferers. Chronic stress affects both our physical and mental health if not taken care of.

Some of the stress which affects most people mental health includes:

•       Environmental stress
•       Marital/ relationship issues stress
•       Family responsibilities stress
•       Economy stress
•       Prolong working hours.
•       Educational stress. 

TRAUMA

This according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “A psychic injury, esp. one caused by emotional shock the memory of which is repressed and remains unhealed.” In simple words, trauma is the aftermath of a serious shock which could be either Physical, emotional, or psychological. Traumatic situations happen almost every time, while some persons can navigate through, others simply live with such traumatic pains all their lives.

Such traumatic pains if not attended to, give room to worry and anxiety which in turn affect the mind and the physical health, which may lead to the onset of high blood pressure and diabetes. People living with trauma seems to show signs of withdrawal. 

Traumatic situations could be because of the following.

•  Child abuse
•  Stigmatization
•  Robbery Victim
•  Sexual assault
•  Rape
•  Relationship issues.
•  Living in conflict zone

 

DRUG / SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

This is the excessive use of drugs (for medical or nonmedical purpose) above the recommended dosage or unprescribed drugs over a period. Such prolong usage or overdose could make one addicted, and lead to serious health issues.

 Such drugs or substances include:

•   Marijuana
•   Cocaine
•   Heroine
•   Diazepam
•   Amphetamine
•  Tramadol
•  Opioids
•  Benzodiazepines. E.T.C.

Most young adults who engage in these substances often have behavioral problems, which also lead to mental health issues.

 

POVERTY

Poverty is endemic in most third world countries. It is a situation where there is little or no access to good diet, portable drinking water, lack of electricity, lack of good and affordable medical care, and low purchasing power for the people.

Poverty itself is a disease, and when people are so poor to the extent, they can’t think for themselves, it affects even their mental state. Imagine a man with a wife and two children, who could not provide for the family, what do you think will be going on in his mind? Things like frustration, rejections, depression and even suicidal begins to dance in his head.

 

LONELINESS/ISOLATION

The human being is a social animal. It means we are socially connected in one way or the other. It also means we are an interactive breed, who constantly interact with one another for our well-being.

Loneliness is the feeling associated with social disconnection. This feeling could be because of:

•     Loss of a loved one.
•     Isolation.
•     Stigmatization
•     Illness.
•     Heart break.
•     Disability.

Loneliness is dangerous, if it is not treated, it could lead to depression and even suicidal.

 

CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Conditions like:

• Heart disease,
• Cancer,
• HIV/AIDS,
• Age related disease,
• Chronic diabetes.

Could impact negatively on one mental health if such a one does not have care and support from family and loved ones, combined with quality health care. This could lead to loneliness, anxiety, depression, and death.

 MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND  EARLYWARNING SIGNS.   

This is also known as mental illness, mental disorder, or mental health conditions.

This is a condition that affect the way a person think, feel, act, and react negatively, it is a disturbance in the cognitive function of that person.

There are over twenty types of mental health disorders, among them are:

•     Anxiety disorders
•     Bipolar disorders
•     Depression
•     Post-traumatic stress disorder
•     Schizophrenia
•     Eating disorders
•     Disruptive behavior and dissocial disorders
•     Neurodevelopmental disorders
•     Mood disorders
•     Addictive disorders.

 

 EARLY WARNING SIGNS

•      Fluctuating thoughts.
•     Social withdrawal.
•     Over anxiety.
•     Hearing and seeing things.
•     Memory loss.
•     Depressed mood/ mood swing.
•     Excessive sadness.
•     Irritability.
•     Harmful behavior.

 

 

 

PROBABLE SOLUTIONS.

There are solutions to all the mental health issues. While I will not treat each of these issues and their associated solution separately, I would recommend that anyone with mental health issues should seek a mental health professional or seek medical advice from the hospital.

However, to give the appropriate solution to any mental health issue, it is better to understand the underline causes of such mental illness.

 

CONCLUSION.

We all need one another to interact and socialize. Let us take responsibility for our mental health and physical health by avoiding the causes of such health issues and show love and care for those in need of our support.