conclusion for mental health essay

Mental Health Essay

Introduction .

The history of mental health is old as humanity. Mental health issues include the psychological, emotional, general social well-being of a human being; this refers to how one feels, acts, and thinks. An individual’s mental health is crucial because it helps manage stress and relationships with others in society. Therefore mental health is crucial in every stage of a human’s life (Bertolote 2008). However, mental health has a very rich history, and the way people perceive mental health has evolved dramatically over the ages. To understand mental health, it is crucial to examine its history and the subsequent evolution to this era. Therefore, understanding the concept of this problem and its impacts on contemporary society, this paper explores its history, development, and outcomes.

History and Development 

Mental health has a timeless history. In the past ages, people with mental health issues were assumed to have been possessed with evil spirits. Religion had a very rigid conception of mental health issues and did not allow the scientific concept of mental health. These negative attitudes made it had for practical intervention to mental health issues. For example, the mentally ill people were taken to religious healers who would then pray for them, cursing out the evil spirits from them. This persisted into the 18th century, especially in the United States, thus causing dramatic stigmatization of mentally ill people. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greek also had these strong religious views about mentally ill people, categorizing them as people facing religious problems hence could only be treated religiously (Eghigian, 2017). Quintessentially, this rich history of mental illness in the US and other parts of the world is the epitome of how trends in the psychiatric and cultural conception of mental health impact the development of certain national health policies addressing mental health.

Development

The development of the understanding of the issue can be assessed by looking at the shift in the perception and beliefs about mentally ill people in society. First, one would be interested in looking at the evolution of the national healthcare systems worldwide. Introducing an inpatient care model where patients live in hospitals while receiving treatments from the professional staff was one of the initial developments. This is considered one of the most effective ways to deal with mental illness. However, these services were only available to people with severe mental health problems. Up to the 19th century, there had not been a big improvement in handling mental health issues. Again, this left out the most vulnerable groups.

Analysis of the development in mental health issues

Today, the mental health issue is looked at through multiple prisms. This development has made it possible to go beyond looking at mental health in its previous form to broaden the conception of mental health types and their effects on society. Today, the majority of people suffer from mental health issues. For instance, according to research, one in five Americas experiences mental illness at a given time of the year, especially the youths. The advent of technology, exposure to social media, and other social conditions such as gender, economic, class, and status are some of the main causes of mental health issues in contemporary society. While discussing each of these causes is beyond the scope of this paper, it is important to mention that these factors form the talking points in the current mental health debate in society.

There are various interventions to solve the mental health problem. Even though these strategies have not sufficiently addressed the issue, it is believed that with the advancement in technology and research, ways to address the pandemic will be realized (Colizzi et al., 2020). First, there is a need to develop primary prevention in youth mental health by creating a primary prevention model. This model focuses on the general population, sub-group, or specific individuals. Essentially, this strategy states that the groups mentioned above should be monitored throughout the neurodevelopmental stages of their lives (Colizzi et al., 2020). Secondly, research shows that there is limited awareness of mental health problems. Therefore, creating awareness about mental health issues is an important intervention. This can be facilitated through various media mainstreams or other platforms. It begins by letting people know the symptoms of mental health issues, after which they can be encouraged to seek help. The dearth of information about mental health is a leading cause of mental health-related deaths.

Finally, the family system intervention is another important strategy to address mental health issues. This strategy focuses on improving outcomes of persons experiencing any form of mental health disorder through improving family engagement (Morey & Mueser, 2007). The family system method aims at improving the well-being of the patient by ensuring that the care given to such people is appropriate and effective.

In summary, the mental health problem is an existing problem in society. It is a pandemic that has lived with humanity for a long time. The perspectives about mental health have evolved over the ages, from retrogressive to rational views. This shift has resulted in a tremendous improvement in the management of mental health. However, as a perennial problem, there is a need to develop practical strategies for dealing with the menace. Many youths and adults experience mental health due to a lack of awareness. Therefore, besides promoting awareness, other interventions such as the primary prevention model and family system invention have been identified as the most important means of addressing mental health issues. With a focus on regions with high mental health causes, such as the US, this paper has identified recommended interventions required for mental health issues in a population.

Bertolote J. (2008). The roots of the concept of mental health.  World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) ,  7 (2), 113–116. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2008.tb00172.x

Eghigian, G. (2017). The Routledge History of Madness and Mental Health.  Routledge . https://doi.org/9781351784399, 1351784390

Colizzi, M., Lasalvia, A., & Ruggeri, M. (2020). Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care?.  International Journal Of Mental Health Systems ,  14 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00356-9

Morey, B., Mueser, K. T. (2007). The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness: Recognizing Symptoms & Getting Treatment. United States: New Harbinger Publications.

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• Mental Health Essay

Essay on Mental Health

According to WHO, there is no single 'official' definition of mental health. Mental health refers to a person's psychological, emotional, and social well-being; it influences what they feel and how they think, and behave. The state of cognitive and behavioural well-being is referred to as mental health. The term 'mental health' is also used to refer to the absence of mental disease. 

Mental health means keeping our minds healthy. Mankind generally is more focused on keeping their physical body healthy. People tend to ignore the state of their minds. Human superiority over other animals lies in his superior mind. Man has been able to control life due to his highly developed brain. So, it becomes very important for a man to keep both his body and mind fit and healthy. Both physical and mental health are equally important for better performance and results.

Importance of Mental Health 

An emotionally fit and stable person always feels vibrant and truly alive and can easily manage emotionally difficult situations. To be emotionally strong, one has to be physically fit too. Although mental health is a personal issue, what affects one person may or may not affect another; yet, several key elements lead to mental health issues.

Many emotional factors have a significant effect on our fitness level like depression, aggression, negative thinking, frustration, and fear, etc. A physically fit person is always in a good mood and can easily cope up with situations of distress and depression resulting in regular training contributing to a good physical fitness standard. 

Mental fitness implies a state of psychological well-being. It denotes having a positive sense of how we feel, think, and act, which improves one’s ability to enjoy life. It contributes to one’s inner ability to be self-determined. It is a proactive, positive term and forsakes negative thoughts that may come to mind. The term mental fitness is increasingly being used by psychologists, mental health practitioners, schools, organisations, and the general population to denote logical thinking, clear comprehension, and reasoning ability.

 Negative Impact of Mental Health

The way we physically fall sick, we can also fall sick mentally. Mental illness is the instability of one’s health, which includes changes in emotion, thinking, and behaviour. Mental illness can be caused due to stress or reaction to a certain incident. It could also arise due to genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, child abuse or trauma, social disadvantage, poor physical health condition, etc. Mental illness is curable. One can seek help from the experts in this particular area or can overcome this illness by positive thinking and changing their lifestyle.

Regular fitness exercises like morning walks, yoga, and meditation have proved to be great medicine for curing mental health. Besides this, it is imperative to have a good diet and enough sleep. A person needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night on average. When someone is tired yet still can't sleep, it's a symptom that their mental health is unstable. Overworking oneself can sometimes result in not just physical tiredness but also significant mental exhaustion. As a result, people get insomnia (the inability to fall asleep). Anxiety is another indicator. 

There are many symptoms of mental health issues that differ from person to person and among the different kinds of issues as well. For instance, panic attacks and racing thoughts are common side effects. As a result of this mental strain, a person may experience chest aches and breathing difficulties. Another sign of poor mental health is a lack of focus. It occurs when you have too much going on in your life at once, and you begin to make thoughtless mistakes, resulting in a loss of capacity to focus effectively. Another element is being on edge all of the time.

It's noticeable when you're quickly irritated by minor events or statements, become offended, and argue with your family, friends, or co-workers. It occurs as a result of a build-up of internal irritation. A sense of alienation from your loved ones might have a negative influence on your mental health. It makes you feel lonely and might even put you in a state of despair. You can prevent mental illness by taking care of yourself like calming your mind by listening to soft music, being more social, setting realistic goals for yourself, and taking care of your body. 

Surround yourself with individuals who understand your circumstances and respect you as the unique individual that you are. This practice will assist you in dealing with the sickness successfully.  Improve your mental health knowledge to receive the help you need to deal with the problem. To gain emotional support, connect with other people, family, and friends.  Always remember to be grateful in life.  Pursue a hobby or any other creative activity that you enjoy.

What does Experts say

Many health experts have stated that mental, social, and emotional health is an important part of overall fitness. Physical fitness is a combination of physical, emotional, and mental fitness. Emotional fitness has been recognized as the state in which the mind is capable of staying away from negative thoughts and can focus on creative and constructive tasks. 

He should not overreact to situations. He should not get upset or disturbed by setbacks, which are parts of life. Those who do so are not emotionally fit though they may be physically strong and healthy. There are no gyms to set this right but yoga, meditation, and reading books, which tell us how to be emotionally strong, help to acquire emotional fitness. 

Stress and depression can lead to a variety of serious health problems, including suicide in extreme situations. Being mentally healthy extends your life by allowing you to experience more joy and happiness. Mental health also improves our ability to think clearly and boosts our self-esteem. We may also connect spiritually with ourselves and serve as role models for others. We'd also be able to serve people without being a mental drain on them. 

Mental sickness is becoming a growing issue in the 21st century. Not everyone receives the help that they need. Even though mental illness is common these days and can affect anyone, there is still a stigma attached to it. People are still reluctant to accept the illness of mind because of this stigma. They feel shame to acknowledge it and seek help from the doctors. It's important to remember that "mental health" and "mental sickness" are not interchangeable.

Mental health and mental illness are inextricably linked. Individuals with good mental health can develop mental illness, while those with no mental disease can have poor mental health. Mental illness does not imply that someone is insane, and it is not anything to be embarrassed by. Our society's perception of mental disease or disorder must shift. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health. They both are equally important for a person. 

Our society needs to change its perception of mental illness or disorder. People have to remove the stigma attached to this illness and educate themselves about it. Only about 20% of adolescents and children with diagnosable mental health issues receive the therapy they need. 

According to research conducted on adults, mental illness affects 19% of the adult population. Nearly one in every five children and adolescents on the globe has a mental illness. Depression, which affects 246 million people worldwide, is one of the leading causes of disability. If  mental illness is not treated at the correct time then the consequences can be grave.

One of the essential roles of school and education is to protect boys’ and girls' mental health as teenagers are at a high risk of mental health issues. It can also impair the proper growth and development of various emotional and social skills in teenagers. Many factors can cause such problems in children. Feelings of inferiority and insecurity are the two key factors that have the greatest impact. As a result, they lose their independence and confidence, which can be avoided by encouraging the children to believe in themselves at all times. 

To make people more aware of mental health, 10th October is observed as World Mental Health. The object of this day is to spread awareness about mental health issues around the world and make all efforts in the support of mental health.

The mind is one of the most powerful organs in the body, regulating the functioning of all other organs. When our minds are unstable, they affect the whole functioning of our bodies. Being both physically and emotionally fit is the key to success in all aspects of life. People should be aware of the consequences of mental illness and must give utmost importance to keeping the mind healthy like the way the physical body is kept healthy. Mental and physical health cannot be separated from each other. And only when both are balanced can we call a person perfectly healthy and well. So, it is crucial for everyone to work towards achieving a balance between mental and physical wellbeing and get the necessary help when either of them falters.