CELEBRATING WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY(10th October)

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           WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 


October 10 every year is set aside by the world Health Organisation to celebrate world Mental health in order to raise awareness about mental health. It is also another opportunity to send out enlightenment and Teachings on mental health and also appreciate mental health workers.

     The theme for this year's world Mental Health Day is " mental health in an unequal world"(WHO, 2021). The slogan for this year's campaign is "mental health for all: let's make it a reality."

      Mental health as defined by the world Health Organisation 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 truthfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

Mental health is also defined as a state of well-being and having a positive sense of how we feel think and act.

Mental health related problems and disorders has rapidly risen by alarming percentages as shown by the latest statistics from the world Health Organization to be among the top five leading cause of death and Disability worldwide.

     Some of these mental health disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorders, schizophrenia disorders etc.

Depression: this is widely described as a prolonged feeling of Sadness and having a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. Depression is the main cause of disability in the world(WHO). It affects all ages.

Depression is defined as a mood disorder that involves a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is different from the mood swings people get but might be a symptom of depression if it persists.

Anxiety disorders: people with this kind of disorder have severe fear which may be related to a certain object or situation. Common symptoms include fatigue, restlessness, tense muscles, insomnia, and disturbed sleep.

Panic disorders: people in this category experience panic attacks which involve sudden unexpected terror or a sense of imminent danger about to happen. Persistent panic disorders can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, attacks  or infraction.

Phobias: these include fears for different things, objects, scenarios, animals, situations etc. Examples include social phobia, agoraphobia( the fear of moving objects like elevator or train.)

Obsessive-Compulsive disorders(OCD): this is suffered by people with obsessions and compulsions. They experienced constant and Powerful urge to perform repetitive acts.

PTSD: this is a mental disorder experienced by people who have gone through traumatic events or experiences like violence, rape, or War. Veterans, refugees and rape Victims are the most common patients of this. They are always afraid that their life or others are in danger and as such will take certain actions which might endanger lives.

Common symptoms of mental disorders

Some common symptoms of mental disorders includes but not limited to:

- withdrawal from Friends families and associates

- avoiding activities they love on a normal basis.

- over sleeping or insomnia.

- loss of appetite or sudden increase in appetite.

- confusion

- instability to complete normal daily tasks.

- hearing voices

- experiencing delusions and hallucinations.

- consistent mood swings.

- alcohol or drug abuse.

- suicidal thoughts

- excessive anger or unusual violence.

             Risk  factors for mental health conditions

Everyone has a risk of developing a mental health disorder or the other no matter the age, sex, colour, race, ethnicity etc. Risk factors include socio-economic conditions, occupation, education, genetic factors, underlying health conditions, stress, physical stress or harm, traumatic events, alcohol-abuse, broken relationships, medical history, history of childhood abuse or Assault etc.

        As the world celebrates world Mental Health Day, it is important that we realise how important and critical the situation is and work towards flattening the curve. Statistics from the world Health Organisation states that depression is suffered by over 400 million people in the world. 1 million people commit suicide  yearly worldwide and 10 to 20 million people attempt suicide yearly. They also stated that the global cost of mental illness as of 2010 is $2.5trillion which is expected to soar past $6 trillion  come 2030.

     In Conclusion, the best preventive measure and treatment for mental disorders is early diagnosis and therapy which includes talking to a physician, psychologist, or any health or medical care provider in your proximity.

   The key word in this year's celebration is "opening up, speak out. Take action".

Take care of yourself and your mental health.

Happy world Mental Health Day celebration from HEALTHBYDANIEL.BLOGSPOT.COM


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