"Disenable The Label"
What is Mental Health?
Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, playing a key factor in the way we think, act or feel. Ultimately, it refers to our ability to cope with daily stressors. Mental illness hinders one’s ability to overcome the demands and stress of day-to-day living and is manifested by changes in psychological and behavioural symptoms. Although the mechanisms may not be fully understood, it is postulated that some develop mental illnesses due to chemical imbalances in the brain, while others are prone to it due to environmental factors such as the amount of stress, poverty conditions, and lack of family or friends support. Together, these factors interfere with an individual’s ability to navigate through life and can significantly influence their outlook on not only themselves but also their surroundings. Unfortunately, even today, mental illnesses are
still feared and misunderstood due to the lack of education and awareness about the topic.
The harsh reality is that the majority of the people who suffer from mental illnesses prefer not to talk aloud because of the associated stigma. Mental illnesses, just like physical illnesses, are medical conditions; in fact, they are treatable conditions. With advancements in research, scientists are publishing new theories on the way the brain works and continuously developing new therapies to successfully manage mental health conditions. Factors such as age, gender, racial profile, and sexual orientation do not necessarily predispose one to mental illnesses; rather, it is a disease process that can affect anyone at any age. Mental illnesses exist on a spectrum, ranging from mild with minimal interference in daily life to severe conditions that can result in hospitalization. FreeTheMind hopes to contribute to the global cause of improving access to mental health resources and fundraising for research.
Why is Mental Health Important?
Mental illnesses are often brushed off and not taken with the same seriousness as physical medical conditions. Unfortunately, the statistics are disheartening. The Canadian Mental Health Association states that one in five Canadians will experience some form of mental illness, while one in eight will develop a mental illness serious enough to require professional care. With these numbers continuing to incline, mental health is starting to become a part of common conversations. The importance of mental health is very similar to the importance of physical fitness, which helps keep our bodies active. Improving our mental health helps us achieve and sustain a higher level of functioning to better enjoy our daily routines. Moreover, it helps us cope with stressors and difficult times in both our personal and professional lives. By nurturing our mental health, we can help decrease the incidence of illnesses. As a start, we ask that you incorporate these three tips into your lifestyle: get physical, eat right, and take control of stress.
What are the Signs & Symptoms?
Mental illness and mental health is a state of one’s wellbeing, and thus, it is often misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed in the healthcare setting. This is why we need to be aware of some key signs and symptoms that we notice in ourselves or our loved ones. We can make positively impact others' lives and it starts by recognizing some changes in behaviours or personalities. Below is a list of some early warning signs that we can all keep in mind next time we are in a social setting:
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A change in their sleeping pattern: either sleeping too
much or too little -
A change in their eating pattern: either eating too much
or too little -
Complaining of or exhibiting low or no energy
-
Complaining of disinterest in the things or activities they
previously enjoyed -
Complaining of feeling numb or like nothing matters
anymore -
Having repetitive aches and pains that are unexplainable
by other causes and resistant to treatment -
Experiencing feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
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Engaging in risky behaviours like smoking, drinking, or drug use more than usual
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Experiencing personality changes like feeling unusually confused, forgetful, angry, upset, yelling or fighting with family members
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Experiencing severe mood swings that are beginning to have an impact on their relationships
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Complaining of hearing voices or believing things that not necessarily true
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Inability to perform daily, routine tasks
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Sharing thoughts of harming themselves or others
If you or a loved one have been experiencing any of these symptoms, we encourage you to speak up to someone you can trust. Together, we can strategize ways to help alleviate symptoms and ultimately, create healthy and cohesive societies.
How Can You Help?
The phrase, “mental illness,” strikes feelings of uncertainty or uneasiness, and that is primarily due to the lack of information presented in the media. Like most physical medical conditions, there is no way to be sure that one can definitively prevent developing a mental illness. However, there are actions we can take to ensure that we are able to access help when we need to and heighten our awareness about changes in the way we act or feel.
No one knows your own body and emotions as accurately as yourself. Therefore, work collaboratively with your doctor when you start noticing any behavioural changes. Additionally, you are also encouraged to speak with a therapist to learn what might trigger your symptoms or how to alleviate them. As a team, you can develop a plan so that you are well-informed on how to handle the situation when your symptoms return. Whenever you feel comfortable, involve your family and friends to watch for warning signs as well. We caution individuals from trying to diagnose themselves using the internet because many conditions may have overlapping symptoms, thereby increasing the chance of being misinformed.
It is also very important that you keep up to date with routine medical check-ups. Just like we go to the doctor and expect to be examined for all physical medical conditions, it is crucial that we also trust our primary care providers to check our mental well-being. Therefore, do not neglect check-ups or skip visits, especially if you notice you are not feeling well physically or mentally. Often, mental health conditions can arise due to the consequences of physical conditions, so it is very important to have healthy discussions about how to cope with different stressors and related risk factors. Always remember:
Lastly, yet just as important is to be aware of the available resources in your local community. Familiarize yourself with other mental health or similarly supportive organizations, and ask your primary care provider to share informative posters. Coping with mental health begins with understanding when to ask for help and where to go. Similar to any other medical condition, the longer you wait, the harder it can become to treat the symptoms. Please take good care of yourself and your family and friends. Get sufficient sleep, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and partake in activities that help reduce stress levels or help cope with daily stressors.
The world famous, Mr. Hasan Minhaj - host of the Netflix Series, "Patriot Act," did an amazing episode on the challenges associated with getting mental health help. We encourage you to watch this video for a humorous twist on the serious topic, which not only provides important information, but also suggests ways to obtain support:
