Universal Declaration of Human Rights are rights that all human beings are entitled to. Human rights are inalienable. This means that you cannot lose them because they are linked to the very fact of human existence, they are inherent to all human beings and Mental Health on the other hand means our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental Health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental Health features in every aspect of our lives because it deals with our emotion, psychological and social well-being. As human being, we need to be mentally stable in whatever we are doing. MEL ROBBINS once said and I quote “Your Mental Health is everything, Prioritize it. Make the time like your life depends on it, because it does”. In everything we do our Mental Health should be put into consideration because it will tell a lot about who we are.
The following are Mental Health disorder; Mood depression (such as depression or bipolar depression), anxiety disorder, personality disorder, psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia), eating disorder, trauma-related disorders (such as post-traumatic stress disorders and substance abuse disorder.
What are the symptoms of mental illness?
Each type of mental illness has a different set of symptoms. For example, extreme dieting may be a sign that someone has an eating disorder. Hearing voices could be a sign of psychosis. An ongoing feeling of hopelessness after childbirth could be a sign of postnatal depression. People with depression can have a lasting sadness or low mood. People with anxiety often have excessive worry or fears. Sometimes feelings of anxiety happen without any apparent reason.
Drastic changes in a person’s thoughts, moods or behaviour can be a sign they have a mental illness.
Changes can be sudden or come on gradually over a long period. A person who usually copes well with life may start to have trouble doing their normal activities. These changes can cause them, or their loved ones, distress. These signs could indicate a mental illness.
Here are some signs of mental illness to look out for
▪ Usual or illogical thoughts
▪ Unreasonable anger or irritability
▪ Poor concentration and memory, not being able to follow a conversation
▪ Hearing voices that no one else can hear
▪ Increased or decreased sleep
▪ Increased or low appetite, or preoccupation with control over food, calories or excessive exercise
▪ Lack of motivation
▪ Withdrawing from people
▪ Drug use
▪ Feelings that life is not worth living or suicidal thoughts
▪ Becoming obsessed with a topic, like death or religion
▪ Not looking after personal hygiene or other responsibilities
▪ Not doing as well as usual at school or work
What causes mental illness?
Researchers are still trying to understand what causes mental illness. There is not simply one cause, and often it is a complex mix of factors. These can include genetics and aspects of social learning, such as how you grew up.
It can also be Impacted by how your brain works and the interplay with your environment. Your social group, your culture and life experience can also play a part in the development of a mental illness.
Some examples of these factors include:
Genetic factors — having a close family member with a mental illness can increase the chance that you might get a mental illness. However, just because one family member has a mental illness doesn’t mean that others will.
Drug and alcohol abuse — illicit drug use can trigger a manic episode (bipolar disorder) or an episode of psychosis. Drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines can cause paranoia.
Other biological factors — some medical conditions or hormonal changes can cause mental health problems.
Early life environment — negative childhood experiences can increase the risk of some mental illnesses. Examples of negative childhood experiences are abuse or neglect.
Trauma and stress — in adulthood, traumatic life events or ongoing stress can increase the risk of mental illness. Issues such as social isolation, domestic violence, relationship breakdown, and financial or work problems can impact on mental health. Traumatic experiences such as living in a war zone can increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Personality factors — some traits such as perfectionism or low self-esteem can increase the risk of depression or anxiety.
Mental Health can be controlled in the following ways;
- Make social connection — especially face-to-face — a priority. …
- Stay active. …
- Talk to someone. …
- Appeal to your senses. …
- Take up a relaxation practice. …
- Make leisure and contemplation a priority. …
- Eat a brain-healthy diet to support strong mental health. …
- Don’t skimp on sleep.
As human being, we have the right to live a life full of happiness and joy. We must make our Mental Health our priority because this has a lot to do with every other thing we do in life. Once Mental Health is affected, other things will be affected and it will lead to depression and suicidal thoughts may come in. We are created for a specific purpose; we must all strive to fulfill our purpose and be ready to tackle any problems that may want to stand as obstructions. Let’s YES to life and No to Mental Disorder.