World Mental Health Day 10th October 2011

What do you think when you read the words mental health or mental illness?
Do you know or have you suffered from mental health issues?
Do you know what mental health issues are?
Do you think it’s something to be talked about openly or shared in low voices in private.

Mental health is described as your emotional wellbeing or the absence of a mental disorder. In the UK mental health awareness week was in May and this first week  in October it runs in the USA. On the 10th of October it is World Mental Health day.

The World Health Organisation views mental health as ‘a state of wellbeing, where you realise your own abilities and are able to cope with the normal stresses of life can work productively and fruitfully and make a contribution to the community’

There is not one “official” definition of mental health……

Mental health problems
Include:
– depression
– anxiety disorder
– schizophrenia
– bipolar

Why is there still such a stigma when it comes to mental health and mental illness?
Why is the subject discussed like it’s shameful?
Why when trying to discuss mental health problems with our family or friends is it sometimes  misunderstood, fobbed off or put off-limits?
Why do we not admit what we are going thru, even to ourselves, and go seek appropriate help?

Stigma-  something judged by others as a sign of disgrace and something that sets a person apart from others

When something is stigmatised, the issue will often be avoided due to making people uncomfortable. People may even mock these things to make them feel less threatened. This silence and the lack of understanding in regards to mental illness encourages feelings of shame and in turn may discourage people from going to get the treatment they require. Or they may not admit that what they are going thru may be related to a mental illness.

I am a classic example. A year ago I went through a pretty low period in my life. If it weren’t for my blog posts in soapgirlsthoughts, I still don’t think I would really have known or recognised how low I’d got unless I’d read back. When I finally listened to my husband, I was able to talk through what was happening and how I was feeling and re-address the issues I was going through.

I can now recognise and talk about it, but I never officially recognised it or received medical treatment. This is not the best way to get through things at all. I realise I was not in good mental health at that time. When I go through tough times now, I’ve key people in place to talk to. They are ones who actually are astute enough to notice when I’m not my chatty bubbly self and send me a “you ok” msg. They are very important to me. Equally important is if I slide and don’t feel I’m coping, I WILL be going to discuss it officially with my GP.

Mental illness whether stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar or schizophrenia is NOTHING to be ashamed of. In fact, the more I share the more common I find people have shared the same experiences. Sadly like me they have also suffered the same stigmas as me and unfortunately, also like me, lost friends…

Support is key

Mental Health Statistics�
– 1 in 4 will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of the year
– mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain�
– woman are more likely to be treated than men for a mental problem (I wonder is this due to admitting the problem and seeking help)
– about 19% of children have mental health problems at any one time
– depression affects 1 in 5 older people
– suicide rates show that men are three times more likely to die by suicide than British women
– self harm stats in the UK are one of the highest rate in Europe 400 per 100,000 population
– only 1 in 10 prisoners has NO mental disorder

Sources
Mental health foundation
www.mental health.org.uk/

www.rethink.org