Mental health

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. It estimates that at least one in four people will suffer one or more mental health disorders in a lifetime.
We all have the potential for suffering from mental health problems, regardless of age, gender, financial standing, or ethnicity. Many factors can increase the likelihood of us experiencing issues, but poor mental health has no prejudice.
It may seem that mental health has become a buzzword and yes, people are talking about it, the government is behind developments and awareness is growing, but what does poor mental health really look like? Those who suffer from mental health disorders will find it challenging to maintain productivity or contribute to the community, but more importantly, it will affect their day-to-day lives closer to home.
For example, one of the most common types of disorders is a group of anxiety disorders that include panic disorder, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. All of these have an adverse effect on day-to-day lives, because they limit and dictate behaviour regardless of what a person wants to do. The fear they live with disrupts their potential for stability and happiness and they can be constantly or frequently on edge.
Other types of ailments are mood disorders; mild or major depression and bipolar disorder. These affect people in a variety of ways: losing interest in activities, prolonged periods of sadness, lack of motivation, and feelings of despair. In the case of bipolar disorder, the sufferer oscillates between episodes of euphoria (mania) and depression (despair).
Another serious condition is schizophrenia. The sufferer has thoughts that appear fragmented and finds it hard to process information. They hallucinate, can be delusional and can withdraw into their own world. This condition can pose danger to both the sufferer and those they come into contact with, and obviously affect their day-to-day life and reality.
Mental health is a level of psychological well-being; just as physical health relates to our physical well-being. The difference is that as a nation we seem to be able to accept that we need help to maintain our physical health and most of us will willingly visit the doctor, accept treatment when necessary and even take measures to prevent deterioration. Contrarily, the stigma attached to mental health prevents so many from reaching out for help, working to prevent poor mental health, or even accepting there is problem.
Here in Guyana, there are added factors contributing to the prevention of people receiving treatment, including the absence of qualified professionals, the uneven distribution of those limited resources, ignorance, a self-reliance culture and religious beliefs. These exasperate the problem, as studies show that the earlier the intervention the greater the reduction in the symptoms the individual experiences, the faster the recovery and return to functionality and the lower the rates of recurrence.
The way forward is to continue working towards changing the culture of dismissing mental health issues, encouraging a new attitude to recognise issues are not weakness, educating people about the disorders, and encouraging them to seek help. It has already been determined that preventive, community-based care is better suited to treat people with mental health issues rather than an over-reliance on psychiatric doctors, so efforts need to be made to train nurses and community healthcare workers to respond to emotional and psychological concerns.
Similarly, although having a counsellor in every school is a great goal, mentors would provide broader, preventive care that would be more beneficial, quicker to implement and easier to resource. This would allow intervention and prevention earlier in the life cycle.
Don’t let the mental health awareness occasioned by our commemoration of World Mental Health Day (October 10) pass without note. Invest in maintaining your own mental health by taking time out to understand yourself, seek ways to enjoy a healthy state of mind, and ask for help if ever you need it.