‘Anxiety, depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder’ are some of the conditions heard about in mental health. However, do people really know about these conditions? What is mental health?
Mental Health is the status of our mental well-being that allows us to deal with life’s stressors. It also allows us to realize our ability and teaches us to learn and work well in the contribution to our community (Mental Health, 2022). Mental Health is a part of healthcare that affects our community on a grand scale. It is determined by biological, socio-economic and environmental range factors (Mental Health, 2022).
Unfortunately, there is a stigma that occurs around mental health. When mental health is mentioned, some comments that we hear may include things like: “They Crazy” or His Head Nuh Good.” These comments are misconceptions that are faced every day in our society.
As a community, we need to learn and become more receptive about the different types of mental health conditions and how they affect both ourselves and our families. This will allow us to not only identify a person’s ailment, but how to be empathetic towards them.
We can help each other by doing mental health checks: Start a conversation, offer support and most of all be a friend. Also, follow these warning signs to assist in mental health checks.
- Feeling withdrawn or sad for several days
- Thinking or making plans for self-harm
- Increase in severe risky behavior
- Feeling overwhelming fear suddenly
- Obsessive weight loss actions (vomiting, using laxatives obsessively)
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there
- Increase in drug and/or alcohol use
- Changes in sleeping patterns, mood/behavior and personality suddenly
- Difficulty in concentrating or staying still
- Obsessive thoughts that affect daily life (Mental Health, 2022)
Remember, you can help save a life, just by talking, listening and getting the necessary help. Whether it is your life or someone else’s.
Works Cited
Mental Health. (2022, June 17). Retrieved from World Health Organization
