Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected causing a significant disruption in services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
Yet there is cause for optimism. During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations.
During this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign, efforts are being ramped up by different individuals, organisations and institutions to encourage the world to highlight positive stories to help make the world less gloomy.
IBIENE whose motto is all about enjoying even the very little things of life is using this piece to help brighten up the world.
Here’s what you should know about minding what’s in your head;
Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have to take extra care of your mental health or you don’t have mental health problems. Your ‘emotional health’ or ‘well-being’ is just as important as good physical health. Mental health is everyone’s business. We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass. But sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us.
Since everyone is different, one sibling may bounce back from a setback while the othe sibling may feel weighed down by it for a long time. Note that your mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can change as circumstances change and as you move through different stages of your life.
There’s a stigma attached to mental health problems and this makes people feel uncomfortable about them and don’t talk about them much. Many people don’t even feel comfortable talking about their feelings. But it’s healthy to know and say how you’re feeling and it is the right step towards recovery.
If you have been diagnosed with some mental related disorders, do not be afraid to go for treatment. Locking yourself up will never bring about a solution. If you find yourself getting very emotional over seemingly little things, it’s time to knock at the door of a certified mental health practitioner.
Is there something bothering you that you want to talk about? Do share your story with us in the comment section.