Mental health has been a taboo topic for centuries around the world. It is only recently that it has become a topic to share rather than a topic to hide.
Earlier any mental issue was regarded as madness, and the individual was doomed to live a discarded life due to being labeled as mad. Even a decade ago going to a psychiatrist was unheard of. Now due to the changing times, it has been encouraged and supported.
The importance of mental health can be equated to an open wound. If not treated or dealt with in time, it can prove to be a fatal injury. Bottling up of feelings, not seeking help with addictions, self-handling of disorders – all these issues, if not recognized and counseled, can lead to a nervous breakdown.
Poor mental health is also associated with rapid social change, stressful work conditions, gender discrimination, social exclusion, unhealthy lifestyle, physical ill-health, and human rights violations.
There are specific psychological and personality factors that make people vulnerable to mental health problems. Biological risks include genetic factors.
Earlier a student’s lack of academic success was thought to be nothing more than a lack of interest in studies. Slowly awareness about learning and development disorders was spread due to which a vast number of children were freed from these issues by counseling and psychiatric help.
The detrimental effects of an unhealthy and inefficient lifestyle are now hyped. Modern families do not hesitate to make an appointment with psychiatrists as they recognize the need for expert guidance, for the smooth sailing of developmental processes.
A colossal amount of stereotypes used to plague individuals on how they had to act in front of society. Men had to be brave and not show even a glimmer of emotions or they had to be the breadwinner of the family, women had to keep the family together or acquire a good work-life balance.
Slowly along with mental health awareness, it was finally okay to seek help in relationships, gender roles, parenting, basically, it came as a right to freedom to be who you wished to be.
Suicides have significantly reduced with the advent of counseling and help-lines. With anger-management classes, an enormous number of individuals are saved from committing hot-blooded crimes. With community clubs being organized for various addictions, it has become a bit easier to deal with them knowing you aren’t alone. Mental health awareness has played a significant role in teaching people how to talk, or deal with patients suffering not from a physical affliction but a frayed state of mind.
When we feel at peace and in command mentally, automatically the body functions much better. We cease to always be tired, depressed, and forlorn. If we are aware of the fact that our emotions and feelings are not to be ashamed of and when we know that we would not be subjected to ridicule, this knowledge helps us to be stronger and more resilient to mental health issues and helping other victims too.
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