What you need to know about mental health

Dalies

Good thinking does not happen by accident. You need to take positive steps to support your mental health. This includes understanding the crucial link between mind and body. After all, mental health is essential for overall health and well-being, and affects the way we think, feel and act.

What is mental health?

Simply put, it means emotional, psychological and social well-being. But for many, anxiety, fear, stress and depression can overwhelm the mind and cause real and serious physical problems. Some medical conditions can also put your mental health at risk.

Dispelling myths

Mental disorders are medical illnesses, like diabetes, cancer or migraine headaches, but they often have a stigma. Here are some common mental health myths and facts:

  • Mental illness only occurs in adults. Fake! Half of all mental health disorders show the first signs before you turn 14.
  • Mental health problems make people violent and unpredictable. Fake! Only three to five per cent of violent acts are committed by people with serious mental illness.
  • People with mental illness can’t cope with work. Fake! Employees with mental illness can be as productive and hard-working as anyone else.
  • Mental health problems are caused by character flaws, personality weaknesses or a lack of discipline. Fake! They are linked to biological factors – your genes, brain chemistry, trauma or physical illness; life experiences – a history of abuse or trauma; or heredity – family members with mental illness.

Common mental illnesses

You or a family member may have direct experience of:

  • Attention-deficit/attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD)
  • Anxiety disorders – panic or generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression and postnatal depression
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
  • Eating disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Misuse of substances

Does the treatment work?

Yes! People with mental health problems can get better, and many make a full recovery. For example, if you suffer from depression, getting therapy or medication can help to eradicate the blues. According to Mental Health America, 80 percent of people who seek professional help get better.