What is Mental Health?

Mental health is an integral and essential component of health, indeed, there is no health without mental health. Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. Having good mental health helps you lead a relatively happy and healthy life. Mental health can affect daily living, relationships, and physical health. 

What is mental health?

According to World Health Organization (WHO): “Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

Mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities. Mental health is about not only avoiding active conditions but also looking after ongoing wellness and happiness.

Risk factors for mental health

Mental health can be influenced by a variety of factors, including life events or even your genetics. 

Everyone has some risk of developing a mental health disorder, no matter their age, sex, income, or ethnicity. Good mental health depends on a delicate balance of factors and several elements of life and the world at large can work together to contribute to disorders.

Common mental health disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) helps mental health professionals diagnose mental illnesses. There are many types of mental health disorders. In fact, almost 300 different conditions are listed in DSM-5.  

The most common types of mental illness are as follows:

• Bipolar disorder 

• Persistent depressive disorder

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

• Major depressive disorder 

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Social anxiety disorder

• Schizophrenia

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Early signs of mental health 

There is no physical test or scan that indicates whether a person has developed a mental illness. However, people should look out for the following as possible signs of a mental health disorder:

• being confused

• avoiding activities that they would normally enjoy

• sleeping too much or too little

• eating too much or too little

• feeling hopeless

• displaying negative emotions

• having consistently low energy

• hearing voices

• being unable to complete daily tasks

• thinking of causing physical harm to themselves 

• experiencing delusions

• withdrawing from friends, family, and colleagues

• using mood-altering substances, including alcohol and nicotine, more frequently

Treatment

There are various methods for managing mental health problems. Treatment aims to reduce symptoms, address underlying causes and make the condition manageable.Treatment is highly individual, and what works for one person may not work for another.

The person needs to work closely with a doctor who can help them identify their needs and provide them with suitable treatment.

Treatments can include:

• Psychotherapy

• Talking therapies

• Medication

• Self-help

• Hospital and residential treatment

The End Notes

That's all in this article. If you know someone at this risk of mental illness, Talk to the person and listen to the person without judgment. I hope you liked it. Please share your views below. 

Thanks for reading!