Mental health is important at each stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood and aging.
According to an article from medlineplus.gov,
“mental health
affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to
others, and make choices.”
To be fair, emotional and mental health is important because it’s a vital part of your life and impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
It plays an important part in the health of your relationships. One simple exercise would be to notice your reaction to situations when you are in a bad mood and feeling irritated as opposed to when you are in a festive mood. You will observe that your reactions to the same situation would be different.
The same applies for performance- Being healthy emotionally promotes
productivity and effectiveness in activities like work and school.
Mental health allows you to adapt to changes in your life and cope with
adversity. If you are optimistic, you will surely overcome any
challenges that come your way with high energy, passion, conviction, and perseverance.
On the other hand, if you are feeling low, then even a single small hurdle will
be perceived as doomsday!
Is it a stigma?
Despite its unquestionable existence, there is still a negative attitude around mental health. People with mental health problems can also experience discrimination in all aspects of their lives. This stigma and discrimination makes many people's problems worse.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), there are 7 types of stigma:-
1. Public Stigma
This is when the public, in general, inscribes negative thoughts, stereotypes, and prejudices which result in discrimination against people with mental health conditions.
2. Self-Stigma
This happens when a person suffering from a particular issue (for example substance abuse, depression, anxiety) internalizes the negative stereotypes and prejudices that society has against that condition.
3. Perceived Stigma
As the name itself suggests, this is only a perception that the patient or next of kin may have. It does not realistically relate to negative cognitions from others.
4. Label Avoidance
This is when a patient chooses not to seek medical help and treatment to avoid being tagged with a diagnosis. This is the most harmful form of stigma as it creates a self-destruction spectrum for the patient whereas it could have been treated. One example is for substance abuse or alcoholics who hide their dependence.
5. Stigma by Association
Stigma by Association relates to the patient's next of kin (close family or friends) being singled out due to the patient's condition. This is particularly true to parents whose children suffer from chronic depression, siblings of patients suffering from schizophrenia, or people who are related to patients suffering from bipolar disorders.
6. Structural Stigma
This involves the decreased opportunities open for people with mental illness due to institutional policies or other societal structures (for example, club memberships, insurance policies)
7. Health Practitioner Stigma
This takes place when a health professional allows prejudices about a patient's condition, thereby affecting the individual's care.
Should Mental Health be de-stigmatized?
Now that we know it is an integral part of our living system- just as much as we are born with our blood group, brain cells, body, and genes, it should not be a stigma.
We know the types of stigma and therefore we have the keys to deal with each specific type of stereotype. For a fact, many people at your workplace, school, clubs, or family reunions may be having some undiagnosed issues like panic attacks, chronic anxiety, light headedness, demotivation. These being ignored due to lack of information, awareness, and treatment, are often translated into poor performance, bleak future perception, amongst other outcomes.
Therefore, start today, and ensure that you as well as anyone else in your surrounding is fully aware of health and wellness status.
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