Mental health in different ways. Thoughts from a new Young Reporter
What is mental health? Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes 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”, according to the World Health Organization. Mental health includes subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one’s intellectual and emotional potential, among others. From the perspectives of positive psychology or holism, mental health may include an individual’s ability to enjoy life and to create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how one defines “mental health”. Some early signs related to mental health problems are sleep irritation, lack of energy and thinking of harming yourself or others.
According to the World Health Organization, 450 million people currently suffer from a mental illness, but everyone will deal with a mental health issue or neurological disorder during their lifespan.
Demographics
Children and young adults
Mental health conditions are 16% of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10–19 years. Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most cases go undetected and untreated. Depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds. Exposure to childhood trauma can cause mental health disorders and poor academic achievement.
Ignoring mental health conditions in adolescents can impact adulthood. 50% of preschool children show a natural reduction in behavioural problems. The remaining experience long-term consequences. It impairs physical and mental health and limits opportunities to live fulfilling lives. A result of depression during adolescence and adulthood may be substance abuse. The average age of onset is between 11 and 14 years for depressive disorders.[53] Only approximately 25% of children with behavioural problems refer to medical services. The majority of children go untreated.
Homeless population
Mental illness is thought to be highly prevalent among homeless populations, though access to proper diagnoses is limited. An article written by Lisa Goodman and her colleagues summarized Smith’s research into PTSD in homeless single women and mothers in St. Louis, Missouri, which found that 53% of the respondents met diagnostic criteria, and which describes homelessness as a risk factor for mental illness. At least two commonly reported symptoms of psychological trauma, social disaffiliation and learned helplessness are highly prevalent among homeless individuals and families.
While mental illness is prevalent, people infrequently receive appropriate care. Case management linked to other services is an effective care approach for improving symptoms in people experiencing homelessness. Case management reduced admission to hospitals, and it reduced substance use by those with substance abuse problems more than typical care.
Immigrants and refugees
States that produce refugees are sites of social upheaval, civil war, even genocide.[56] Most refugees experience trauma. It can be in the form of torture, sexual assault, family fragmentation, and death of loved ones.
Refugees and immigrants experience psychosocial stressors after resettlement. These include discrimination, lack of economic stability, and social isolation causing emotional distress. For refugees’ family reunification can be one of the primary needs to improve quality of life. Post-migration trauma is a cause of depressive disorders and psychological distress for immigrants.
I hope that can help you understand how mental health can affect people in different ways. Down below are different websites that you visit to help your mental health
Kooth plc
At Kooth, the sole purpose is to create easy to access online mental health services that work alongside you to provide compassionate and effective support. If you’re interested in learning more about our employee mental health platform then head to work.kooth.com. Kooth Work helps your people thrive and flourish.
Samaritans
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide throughout Great Britain and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline. Its name derives from the biblical Parable of the Good Samaritan although the organisation itself is non-religious.
Article by Young Reporter Tia Hanson
First published in Grimsby Telegraph 22nd March 2022