The term, in a technical sense, can be defined as “a state of wellbeing where an individual can cope with the normal stresses of life and can work productively and contribute to society”, according to the World Health Organisation.
When an individual has good mental health, it does not just refer to the absence of any mental illnesses or disorders. It includes a multitude of feelings and emotions that we go through in life, in response to whatever “life throws at us”. Having good mental health doesn’t mean that our negative feelings, such as sadness, loneliness, and disappointment are kept to a minimum.
However, when these negative emotions persist and stay over prolonged periods of time, without any plausible cause that justifies them, and consequently interferes with our ability to enjoy life, it, therefore, elucidates the impression that there be a possible mental health problem that needs attention, thus introducing possible mental illnesses and disorders.
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Mental Illnesses may be experienced by people with mental health problems which are so severe that a diagnosis is then required, which involves the support and services from various specialist mental health teams or institutes. In Australia, mental and substance use disorders are considered to be amongst the most important and prevalent health issues that people face.
According to the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, in a 12 month period, approximately 1 in 5 people in Australia were affected by a mental health problem, However, of these peoples, more than one-quarter of Australian aged 18 to 24 years old were suffering from at least one mental health disorder during that time period.
These circumstances also exist amongst Australian Indigenous communities, where the continuing grief and trauma that resulted from the loss of their traditional lands and social practices due to colonization, the destruction of their traditional government, as well as the policies of child removal, are the reason for “some of the worst developmental health and well-being outcomes in advanced industrial society” (Vimpani, 2005).
Unfortunately, there is the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, which can be divided into two types. ‘Social stigma’ stems from the prejudiced attitudes and behaviors that result in discrimination against those with mental health problems, whereas ‘perceived stigma’ mostly involves the individual creating their own impediments of discrimination, due to their own perceptions of their mental health (Link, Cullen, Struening & Shrout, 1989).
The stigmas that focus on the mental health of individuals are often held by a broad range of people in society, whether or not they’ve experienced mental illnesses themselves, or if they know somebody that does. Moses (2010) found that stigmas that are directed at the adolescents and young adults with mental health disorders or illnesses tend to come from people they know personally, such as family members, teachers, or their friends. Improper treatments such as these may have been a result of the misguided views, and the untrue belief that people with mental illnesses were prone to be more violent and unpredictable, in comparison to those that are mentally healthy (Swanson, Holzer, Ganju & Jono, 1990).
Even in the medical field, stigmas concerning mental health can be found. A study conducted in 2012 by the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA), found that people who were seeking medical help for their mental illnesses faced similar levels of stigma as the levels of stigma encountered amongst the general population.
The study found that almost 29 percent of patients from various medical categories reported that their health professional had turned them ignored their needs, whilst 54 to 57 percent of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder reported being ignored by their health professional. Seeking help for a mental illness is already a difficult task to accomplish, but when stigmas are involved, the situation not only becomes a lot more difficult for the patient, it also poses a substantial risk to their wellbeing and may cause psychological distress.
Unfortunately, there are still not that many adequate facilities to fight against mental illnesses and disorders. Even if accessible and available, some services might not be acceptable to young people, as it may not cater to the need that their mental illnesses demand of them. Additionally, some health professionals may not be trained in communicating with young people and may cause some to be unhappy with their consultations, deciding not to return.
In an area with a poor economic status, it is found that the number of mental illnesses increases, whilst the quality of the health services decreases. Thus, when mental health services are required by the public, the quality of those services is inadequate, often leaving them with little to no assistance or understanding of their mental health at all. Another problem involves behaviors in which young people use when they are seeking help for mental illness. However, many people with severe mental illnesses do not have access to work, school, or family doctors due to their quality of life, or even due to societal stigmas (Rickwood, Deane and Wilson, 2007).
There’s no sure way to prevent mental illness. However, taking steps to control stress factors, to increase resilience, and to boost self-esteem may help keep our mental health in check. Some people would not need any ongoing support to help manage their mental illness, whilst others may seldomly need support, while there are also others that need constant and on-going support to help maintain their quality of life whilst managing their mental illness. The main difference between mental health and mental illness relates to both the severity and the length of time these symptoms and patterns in behavior are displayed. A lot of the advice found online talks about the importance of positive thinking and self-care, such as getting enough exercise and eating nutritious food, whilst also getting enough sleep.
In conclusion, everyone strives to have good mental health, but having one doesn’t necessarily refer to the absence of mental illness. Mental illnesses affect millions of people and it comes in many forms, such as depression or anxiety, or schizophrenia. Many facts can contribute to the severity and length of mental illness, but there is still a huge stigma on mental illness, which would hopefully disappear one day. People should be more open-minded about mental illnesses and our mental health. It can be life-changing and necessary resources should be readily available, not just to accommodate young people, but for everyone, regardless of gender, age, or lifestyle.
