M E N T A L H E A L T H

MENTAL HEALTH

There are many mental health conditions that can seriously affect a person’s behaviour, and disrupt their thinking, feeling and ability to relate to others.

Mental illnesses are caused by different factors these can be genetic or environmental factors. They can affect anybody-old or young rich or poor.

Most common types of mental illness include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

Your mental health is important as your physical health, the right diagnoses of disorders made by professionals is important and the sooner the diagnoses the sooner the treatment can start.

Risk factors of mental health

  • Genes: Having a parent or a sibling who has mental health problems
  • Stressful life situations: These can include a loss of a loved one or financial difficulties
  • Drug Abuse
  • Childhood problems: Neglect or abuse
  • A traumatic experience: Experiencing violence or being assaulted.

Signs

  • Social withdrawal
  • Difficulties concentrating
  • Feeling disconnected to reality
  • Fear or being suspicious of others
  • Strange behaviour patterns
  • Not bathing, washing
  • Mood swings

Depression

Depression is a serious mental condition that affects many people, it is a deep feeling of emptiness and sadness and can affect how one feels about themselves and the ability to relate to others.

Signs

Signs

  • Change in appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Mood swings
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Lack of energy
  • Loss of interest in daily activities

Anxiety

Anxiety disorder has many forms and includes obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD panic attacks, phobias, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

When anxiety becomes more consistent in your life and overwhelms you in a way that you are not able to do normal things it becomes a problem.

Signs

  • Avoiding daily activities
  • Inability to be still and calm
  • Insomnia
  • Nightmares
  • Sweating
  • Shortness of breath

If you are feeling anxious think carefully about your lifestyle and find ways to lessen your worries

STRESS

Stress affects many of us and today’s demands of family and work can cause stress if the two are not managed and balanced properly.

Ways to handle stress

  • Exercise
  • Listen to relaxation tapes podcast
  • Write a journal
  • Talk to friends or family
  • Get enough sleep
  • Meditation

FAMSA helps to deal with mental health problems.