Mental Health Is Important

Mental health is how people think, feel, and act as they face life's situations. It affects how people handle stress, relate to one another, and make decisions. Mental health influences the ways individuals look at themselves, their lives, and others in their lives. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life. Mental Health is an umbrella term for a vast range of illnesses which can limit or hinder a person’s ability to live their everyday lives. All aspects of our lives are affected by our mental health.

There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness. Some of the more common disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders.  Symptoms may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal.

Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events. As with cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical as well as emotional and psychological. Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these. With proper care and treatment many individuals learn to cope or recover from a mental illness or emotional disorder.  

Stigma

Stigma is when mental illnesses are used as labels or as a basis for judgments. . If you are in mental distress, you may begin to doubt yourself and become desperately afraid you are going mad. All the stereotypes of insanity, from Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to Psycho, may come flooding to mind. You may question your ability to think and reason properly, and be afraid of becoming a danger to others or of being locked up in an institution.

These fears are often reinforced by the negative way that mental illness is portrayed on screen and in the newspapers. This may stop you from talking about your problems. The risk of being branded mad, of losing friends, family and freedom may deter you from being open about your experiences. This, in turn, is likely to increase your distress and sense of isolation, and adds to the frustration of those around you. In fact, your worst fears are unlikely to come about.

Labels lead to stigma -- a word that means branding and shame. And stigma leads to discrimination. Everyone knows why it is wrong to discriminate against people because of their race, religion, culture, or appearance. They are less aware of how people with mental illnesses are discriminated against. Although such discrimination may not always be obvious, it exists-and it hurts.

The stigma of mental illness is real, painful, and damaging to the lives of people with mental illness. Stigma prevents them from getting the treatment and support they need to lead healthy, normal lives.

Stigma discourages people from getting help. At any given time, one in four adults and one in five children experience a mental health problem. Early and appropriate services can be the best way to prevent an illness from getting worse. Many people don't seek such services because they don't want to be labeled as "mentally ill" or "crazy."

Stigma keeps people from getting good jobs and advancing in the workplace. Some employers are reluctant to hire people who have mental illnesses. Such discrimination is illegal. But it still happens!

Stigma leads to fear, mistrust, and violence. Even though the vast majority of people who have mental illnesses are no more violent than anyone else, the average television viewer sees three people with mental illnesses each week-and most of them are portrayed as violent or completely incapable of functioning. Such inaccurate portrayals lead people to fear those who have mental illnesses. Many individuals try to prevent people who have mental illnesses from living in their neighborhoods.

Signs of Mental Health Problems

The outward or internal signs that a person may have a mental health problem vary widely. Biological illnesses that have been there since birth are often even harder to identify as all to often people assume it is just the way they are.

The first signs of mental distress will be different for the onlooker than it is for the person in distress. When someone's mood starts changing, for instance, it may take some time for them to become aware of it, but people around them may be much more conscious of the difference. It is often on lookers who are close to you who are first to notice differences in your behavior, thought patterns and attitude.

The following are signs that your loved one may want to speak to a medical or mental health professional.

Confused thinking

Prolonged sadness or irritability

Feelings of extreme highs and lows

Excessive fears, worries and anxieties

Social withdrawal

Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits

Strong feelings of anger

Delusions or hallucinations

Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities

Suicidal thoughts

Denial of obvious problems

Numerous unexplained physical ailments

Substance abuse

Inability to cope with problems and daily activities

Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism

Intense fear of weight gain

By poor appetite or binging

Frequent outbursts of anger

Changes in school/work performance

Hyperactivity

Persistent nightmares

This is by no means an exhaustive list.

Accept your feelings

Despite the different symptoms and types of mental illnesses, many families who have a loved one with mental illness, share similar experiences. You may find yourself denying the warning signs, worrying what other people will think because of the stigma, or wondering what caused you or your loved one to become ill. Accept that these feelings are normal and common among people going through similar situations. Find out all you can about your or your loved one’s illness by reading and talking with mental health professionals. Talk to people like your GP about how you can move forwards or what you may fear is wrong.

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Getting Help

For information about resources available in your community, contact your local mental health centre or one of the local affiliates of national self-help organizations. These agencies can provide you with information on services designed to meet the needs of those suffering from mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, panic disorder, and other anxiety conditions. In addition, they will have information regarding services designed for specific cultural groups, children, the elderly, HIV-infected individuals, and refugees. There is no one single, guaranteed approach to mental distress, whether spiritual, social or medical. If people only see mental distress as an illness, it can limit them to trying only medical treatments. Instead, it’s possible to use a range of approaches that identify and meet each person’s individual needs. Ideally, you should be offered a range of support, so that you can identify for yourself which treatments, therapies or lifestyle suit you best and reduce your distress.

Are psychiatrists the only ones who can help?

No. There are a number of professionals who may be able to offer a variety of types of support, from informal advice from a family doctor, though counselling and psychotherapy to medication from a psychiatrist.

Many people experiencing a crisis for the first time contact their GP. In some cases, the GP may refer him or her on to specialist services for further assessment, treatment and care. Sometimes, people go straight to the Accident and Emergency department of their local hospital. These tend to be busy and unsettling places and you may have to wait a long time. There should be a psychiatrist on call and sometimes other members of staff who link people into mental health services. If you are seriously distressed, you may be admitted to hospital. Hospitals tend to rely heavily on medication, but may also be able to offer additional therapy and talking treatments. In some areas, there are crisis services available to help people prevent having to go to hospital.

Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT). CMHTs are multidisciplinary teams, including social workers and mental health care professionals. Some CMHTs can provide 24-hour crisis support, either in a person’s home or in another community setting (such as a staffed house). They are often geared to specific sections of the community, for example, women, and members of minority ethnic communities or young people with a first episode of mental distress. They are not yet widely available.

A therapist does not have to be a psychiatrist. A number of psychologists, social workers, nurses, mental health counselors, and others have been specially trained and licensed to work effectively with people's mental and emotional difficulties. However, only a psychiatrist is a medical doctor and therefore qualified to prescribe medication.

Types of Treatment

The following are a few of the types of available therapy:

Behavior Therapy - Includes stress management, biofeedback and relaxation training to change thinking patterns and behavior.

Psychoanalysis - Long-term therapy meant to "uncover" unconscious motivations and early patterns to resolve issues and to become aware of how those motivations influence present actions and feelings.

Seeing a Psychiatrist - Psychiatrists provide medical and psychiatric evaluations, treat psychiatric disorders, provide psychotherapy, and prescribe and monitor medications.

Cognitive Therapy - Seeks to identify and correct thinking patterns that can lead to troublesome feelings and behavior.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy-This type of talk therapy combines features of both cognitive and behaviour therapy to identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviours and replace them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave. Even if an unwanted situation has not changed, you can change the way you think and behave in a positive way.

Dialectical behaviour therapy-This is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy whose primary objective is to teach behavioural skills to help you tolerate stress, regulate your emotions and improve your relationships with others. It was designed for people with borderline personality disorder, who often have suicidal behaviour. But it has been adapted for other conditions, too, including people with eating disorders or substance abuse issues.

Exposure therapy-This is a form of behaviour therapy that deliberately exposes you to the very thing that you find upsetting or disturbing. It's especially useful for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Under controlled circumstances, exposure to the event or things that triggers your obsessive thoughts or traumatic reactions can help you learn to cope with them and work through the traumas.

Interpersonal therapy-This approach focuses on your current relationships with other people. The goal is to improve your interpersonal skills — how you relate to others, including family, friends and colleagues. You'll learn how to evaluate the way you interact with others and develop strategies for dealing with relationship and communication problems.

Play therapy-This type of therapy is geared for young children at specific development levels. It uses a variety of techniques, including playing with dolls or toys, painting or other activities. These techniques allow children to more easily express emotions and feelings if they lack the cognitive development to express themselves with words.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy-This type of therapy, based on the theories of psychoanalysis, focuses on increasing your awareness of unconscious thoughts and behaviors, developing new insights into your motivations, and resolving conflicts to live a happier life. It's one of the most common types of psychotherapy. It's less intense than psychoanalysis and is usually done sitting face to face with a therapist. It's also less frequent — usually once a week — and is shorter term, usually a year or less.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy includes a variety of therapeutic techniques, such as exploring your past, confronting your beliefs and actions, offering support, and interpreting your thoughts and behavior. That process allows you to become aware of and acknowledge the link between a feeling, thought, symptom or behavior and an unconscious meaning or motivator. With that new understanding, you can modify unwanted behavior or thoughts.

Family Therapy - Includes discussion and problem-solving sessions with every member of the family.

Movement/Art/Music Therapy - These methods include the use of movement, art or music to express emotions. Effective for persons who cannot otherwise express feelings.

Group Therapy - Includes a small group of people who, with the guidance of a trained therapist, discuss individual issues and help each other with problems.

Drug Therapy--Drugs can be beneficial to some persons with mental or emotional disorders. The patient should ask about risk, possible side-effects and interaction with certain foods, alcohol and other medications. Medication should be taken in the prescribed dosage and at prescribed intervals and should be monitored daily.

I don't like to bother other people with my problems. Wouldn't it be better just to wait and work things out by myself?

That's like having a toothache and not going to the dentist. The results are the same – you keep on hurting and the problem will probably get worse.

Talk? Why talk to a professional when I have friends I can talk to?

You're quite right. If you have a wise and understanding friend who is willing to listen to your problems, you may not need professional help at all. But often that's not enough. You may need a professionally trained person to help you uncover what's really bothering you. Your friend probably does not have the skills to do this. A lot of mental health problems require medication or therapy for effective treatment, or to allow the person to live the life they want to. Whilst talking to a friend can be very helpful often it is not enough, but along side professional help it can be hugely beneficial

How can just talking make problems disappear?

When you're talking to someone who has professional training and has helped many others with problems similar to yours, that person is able to see the patterns in your life that have led to your unhappiness. In therapy, the job is to help you recognize those patterns – and you may try to change them. There may be times, however, when you will need a combination of "talk" therapy and medication.

 As you progress through the therapeutic process, you should begin to feel gradual relief from your distress, to develop self assurance, and have a greater ability to make decisions and increased comfort in your relationship with others. Therapy may be painful and uncomfortable at times but episodes of discomfort occur during the most successful therapy sessions. Mental health treatment should help you cope with your feelings more effectively. Therapy is not a quick cure it involves a lot of emotional and mental hard work on your part and can be a long process

Does taking therapy for mental and emotional problems always work?

Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. Talking treatments, sometimes in combination with medication, can be very successful in helping people deal with mental distress. Counselors and psychotherapists are trained to listen, to help people understand themselves and find ways of overcoming their difficulties. It primarily depends on you and the therapist. It is important to share your concerns in a serious, sincere, and open manner. Only if you are completely honest and open can you expect to receive the best support and advice.

What if I really try, but I still can't feel comfortable with the therapist?

There should be a "fit" between your personality and that of the therapist. Someone else – or some other method – may be more suitable for you. You can ask your therapist for a referral to another mental health professional, or, if you prefer, you can call one of the mental health associations for the names of other therapists in your area.

What if I am receiving medication and don't think it is helping?

Medication can play an important role for some people, but for others it is no help at all. Most drugs prescribed by psychiatrists have potential withdrawal or side effects. Once people have begun on medication, it may be difficult to make any changes to it but often necessary if it is not working out. If someone with a history of mental distress decides to reduce the amount they are taking, or if they decide to stop altogether, these effects can be mistaken for signs of relapse, rather than a withdrawal effect.

It does take time; make sure you are giving the drug adequate time to work. Some people respond better to one medication than another. Some people also are helped by combining treatment with medications and another form of therapy. The most important thing is to talk to your doctor about how you are finding the drugs, any side affects or even if they are working or not.

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How can I help myself?

Taking positive action to help you is an important step.

With all mental conditions self help is it’s most productive when coupled with the appropriate professional help whether therapy or medication or both,

Know your treatment. Make sure you know of what medications to take, what dosage, and when to take them. Find out if there are any foods, medications (prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal) or activities you need to avoid while taking your medication, and write these things down. Track your medications and moods.

Learn all you can about your illness. Talk to your doctor about new treatments you might want to try. Find out what to expect from treatments and how you know if your treatment is working. If you think you could be doing better, ask another doctor for a second opinion.

Take one step at a time. You might not feel better immediately. Allow yourself to slowly, gradually get back to your routine. Give yourself credit for doing small things like getting out of bed, dressing or having a meal.

Prioritize the things you need to do and concentrate on one thing at a time. Write things down or ask friends and family to help you to keep from becoming overwhelmed.

Set limits. Take time to relax. If you feel stressed or exhausted, you can say no or cancel plans. Schedule time to care for yourself and relax, meditate, take a long bath, listen to music, or do something else that is just for you.    

Keep yourself physically well. Many of the problems that accompany mental distress can have a negative effect on your general health, and this can make coping with distress even more difficult. Good physical health care, regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce the depth and duration of mental distress, and may even help to prevent problems returning.

Have faith in yourself. Know that you can get well. If you were manic, you may not feel as productive as you felt before. But you will have a more stable and safe mood, which will help you be more productive over the long term.

Stick with your treatment. Go to your health care appointments, therapy and support groups. Be patient as you wait for medication to take effect. You may have some side effects at first. If they continue for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor about changing your medication, your dosage, or the time you take your medication. Never change or stop your medication without first talking with your doctor.

Recognize your symptoms and triggers. Feeling very discouraged, hopeless, or irritable can be symptoms of your illness. If you feel very angry, your mind starts to race, or you start to think about hurting yourself, stop, think, and call someone who can help. Keep a list of your triggers and warning signs, along with a list of people you can call for help.

Give relationships time to heal. Your family and friends may be unsure of how to act around you at first. There may also be hurt feelings or apologies that need to be made because of things you may have done while in mania or depression. Show that you want to get well by sticking with your treatment. Encourage your loved ones to get support from a support group if they need it. Be honest with them about how you are feeling, you don’t have to be specific but letting them know when and if you are struggling can be very helpful.

Help your loved ones help you. Ask for what you need. Tell them specific things they can do to help you. If you need help such as housework, rides, or wake-up calls, ask.

Take it easy at work. Explain to your supervisor and co-workers that you have been ill and you need to take things slowly. You don’t have to talk about your depression or bipolar disorder. If someone asks questions, politely but firmly tell them you don’t want to talk about it. Do your best at work. Try not to take on too much. There is often no reason why people with mental health problems can’t lead a normal productive life which includes working; it is about finding a level of commitment you can cope with.

Get support from people who have had similar experiences and are feeling better. Joining a self-help group can be very helpful in rebuilding confidence. There are many local support groups for a range of different types of mental distress. Through them, people with the same kind of problem (including relatives and friends) can meet up and share their experiences, learn to identify triggers and develop different strategies for coping. People often find that certain events or circumstances can trigger mental distress for them. Recognising these triggers can minimise both the likelihood of mental distress and its effects when it strikes.

Hospital?

A person who is mentally ill should be in a hospital only if it is absolutely necessary. In general, most mental health professionals believe that persons with mental illness should live in the community and be treated there. That's why mental health centers and community support and rehabilitation programs stress the importance of having many different services available: day, night, and weekend care, and outpatient treatment through regular visits to an office or clinic. If you have severe symptoms of an illness like depression or bipolar disorder, a brief stay in the hospital can help you stabilize. This brochure is intended to help you through your hospitalization. Some ideas may be useful to you; some may not. Everyone’s experience in the hospital is different. Use only the suggestions that make sense to you and help you.

When do I need to go to the hospital?

You might need to go to the hospital if you:

Are seeing or hearing things (hallucinations)

Have bizarre or paranoid ideas (delusions)

Have thoughts of hurting yourself or others

Are thinking or talking too fast, or jumping from topic to topic and not making sense

Feel too exhausted or depressed to get out of bed or take care of yourself or your family

Have problems with alcohol or substances

Have not eaten or slept for several days

Have tried outpatient treatment (therapy, medication and support) and still have symptoms that interfere with your life

Need to make a major change in your treatment or medication under the close supervision of your doctor

How can hospitalization help?

The hospital is a safe place where you can begin to get well. It is a place to get away from the stresses that may be worsening your mood disorder symptoms. No one outside the family needs to be told about your hospitalization.

You can work with professionals to stabilize your severe symptoms, keep yourself safe and learn new ways to cope with your illness.   

You can talk about traumatic experiences and explore your thoughts, ideas and feelings.

You can learn more about events, people or situations that may trigger your manic or depressive episodes and how to cope with or avoid them.

You may find a new treatment or combination of treatments that helps you.

What do I need to know about the hospital?

Hospitalization is intended to create a safe place to allow severe symptoms to pass and medication to be adjusted and stabilized. It is not punishment and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

You may be on a locked ward. At first, you may not be able to leave the ward. Later, you may be able to go to other parts of the hospital, or get a pass to leave the hospital for a short time.

You may have jewellery, personal care items, belts, shoelaces or other personal belongings locked away during your stay. You may not be allowed to have items with glass or sharp edges, such as picture frames, CD cases or spiral notebooks.

You may have to follow a schedule. There may be set times for meals, groups, treatments, medications, activities and bedtime.

You may have physical or mental health tests. You may have blood tests to find out your medication levels or look for other physical problems that may be worsening your illness.

You may share a room with someone else.

Hospital staff may check on you or interview you periodically.

Your prescribing doctor may not be able to see you right away. You will probably talk to several different doctors, nurses and staff members while you’re on the ward. You might have to ask for things you need more than once. 

Generally mental hospitals are used today for short-term crisis intervention when there are no other community services available or when a person needs extra care to stabilize a drug treatment regimen. Also they serve the small percentage of patients who need long-term, structured, supervised care and treatment in a protective setting.

If you put yourself into the hospital as a voluntary inpatient, you can also take yourself out, unless the staffs believes you are a danger to yourself or others in which case they may take out a sectioning order. If you are not a danger, the hospital must release you within.

You have the right to have your treatment explained to you. You have the right to be informed of the benefits and risks of your treatment and to refuse treatment you feel is unsafe. You also have the right to be informed about any tests or exams you are given and to refuse any procedures you feel are unnecessary, such as a gynaecological exam or other invasive procedures. In addition, you have the right to refuse to be part of experimental treatments or training sessions that involve students or observers. Make sure the people treating you know your needs and preferences.

It may take time to get used to the routine in the hospital. If your symptoms are severe, some things may not make sense to you. Try to get what you can out of the activities. Concentrate on your own mental health.

You will meet other people who are working to overcome their own problems. Treat them with courtesy and respect, regardless of what they may say or do. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, tell a staff member. Make the most of your time with your doctor. Make a list of questions you have. Ask your family or other hospital staff to help you with the list. Let your doctor and staff knows about any other illnesses you have or medications you take.

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