what is mental health?
- lxrynwxtring
- May 5, 2023
- 6 min read
5/5/23
good morning cherubs! today we are going to be discussing the definition of mental health and going over the history as well as some statistics of the prevalence of the mental health community.
Since 1949, May has been honored as Mental Health Awareness Month. Devoting an entire month to spreading awareness and educating individuals on all aspects of mental illness is essential to breaking the stigma that has been built around this commonly diagnosed community.
Mental illness isn’t something that should be pushed away or avoided. Its prevalence is enough to understand that it’s something many people are faced with. More than 50 million people in the United States suffer from mental illness. Mental health is important at every stage of life.
Starting with the basics: What is mental health?
“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.” This affects essentially every aspect of our beings as humans. Many factors contribute to mental health problems such as: biological factors, like genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as trauma or abuse, and family history of mental health problems.
being mentally healthy allows individuals to properly deal with the stressors in life and be a beneficial aspect of society. mental health is an essential part of our physical health and well-being as well as playing an important part in our decisions, actions, and helping build relationships.
mental health is a basic human right that anyone and everyone should be entitled to.
"Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. It exists on a complex continuum, which is experienced differently from one person to the next, with varying degrees of difficulty and distress and potentially very different social and clinical outcomes."
So what determine our mental health?
On a base level, our mental health is comprised of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. But on a much deeper level, there is more extreme reasoning behind what plays a role in our mental stability or lack there of.
individual's biological and psychological factors such as emotion skills, substance use, and genetics can play a key role in whether someone is more apt to develop a mental health condition.
exposure to detrimental events, especially in times of drastic development (especially childhood) can play a huge part in the development and diagnosis of mental health conditions. these events could be comprised of but not limited to: poverty, violence, inequality, and economic deprivation.
history of mental health:
the world of mental health has a lengthy history that many people are not aware of.
beginning in the 1890's, the mental hygiene of individuals began to pick up popularity, especially after the Civil War. Dr. J.B. Gray coined the idea of community based mental hygiene and later, Isaac Ray, founder of the American Psychiatric Association defined the term mental hygiene as "the art of preserving the mind against all incidents and influences calculated to deteriorate its qualities, impair its energies, or derange its movements. The management of the bodily powers in regard to exercise, rest, food, clothing and climate, the laws of breeding, the government of the passions, the sympathy with current emotions and opinions, the discipline of the intellect—all these come within the province of mental hygiene."
just like the healing we understand today, the history of mental illness has not been linear, but rather cyclical. If a behavior is seen as typical or not depends on the context of the situation and a few other factors.
throughout history mental illness has been seen as three categories: supernatural, somatogenic, or psychogenic. supernatural theories attribute mental illness to possession by evil or demonic spirits, displeasure of gods, eclipses, planetary gravitation, curses, and sin. somatogenic theories identify disturbances in physical functioning resulting from either illness, genetic inheritance, or brain damage or imbalance. psychogenic theories focus on traumatic or stressful experiences, maladaptive learned associations and cognitions, or distorted perceptions.
Trephination is an example of the earliest supernatural explanation for mental illness. Examination of prehistoric skulls and cave art from as early as 6500 BC has identified surgical drilling of holes in skulls to treat head injuries and epilepsy as well as to allow evil spirits trapped within the skull to be released (Restak, 2000).
Around 2700 BC, Chinese medicine’s concept of complementary positive and negative bodily forces (“yin and yang”) attributed mental (and physical) illness to an imbalance between these forces. As such, a harmonious life that allowed for the proper balance of yin and yang and movement of vital air was essential (Tseng, 1973).
Modern treatments of mental illness are most associated with the establishment of hospitals and asylums beginning in the 16th century. Such institutions’ mission was to house and confine the mentally ill, the poor, the homeless, the unemployed, and the criminal.
thankfully the treatment for mental illness is much less severe today and isn't gauged towards hurting individuals that are suffering from mental health conditions.
statistics about mental health:
There are a lot of myths surrounding the symptoms and prevalence of mental illness. The easiest and quickest way to spread awareness about mental health is to educate on the facts.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, gives a number of fast facts to help us educate others:
· 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year, and less than half of them receive treatment.
· 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience a serious mental illness each year, and less than two-thirds receive treatment.
· 1 in 6 U.S. youth experience a mental health condition each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
· 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
· The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
· 160 million people live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
· In 2020, 1 in 5 young people reported that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health.
· 1 in 10 people under age 18 experienced a mental health condition following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
· In 2020, there was a 31% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits among adolescents.
· More than three quarters of Americans (77%) say they are not content with the state of mental health treatment in the country. People with a mental health condition are even more likely to say they are unhappy with mental health treatment (82%).
· 65% of Americans are concerned about the stigma around mental illness.
· Only half of Americans (52%) say they are familiar with the mental health care system.
It’s apparent that a lot of the statistics show that there is a gap between mental illness and the accurate and purposefully treatment of those illnesses. The best way to combat these statistics is to educate yourself to know what you can have access to if and when you need it.
There is no “one size fits all” treatment for mental illnesses. Typically, there is a mix of treatments that are unique to each individual person and circumstance. Types of treatment can include: medication, counseling/therapy, social support, and education.
There are many types of Mental Health Professional that can assist in mental health recovery, but it’s important to understand who can assess and treat your specific illness and who can accurately prescribe you the medication you may need to assist your recovery.
It’s important to understand exactly what type of professional you need in order to treat your unique diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to speak up about your thoughts and feelings towards a certain treatment, you deserve to have the most educated professional on your team.
The most important part of understanding mental health is that help is available. You can get better and many people recover completely.
This month we will be discussing and educating with our community on many aspects of mental health to better support those we know who are suffering from any sort of mental illness.
You are not alone.
If you or someone you know is suffering from mental health issues, please reach out. Below is a list of resources for anyone who needs them:
Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for a 24-hours, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals or families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
The American Counseling Association also provides a lengthy list of resources, click here to view.
resources:
remember that you deserve to be here no matter what it is that you are going through.
xx Loryn
Komentar