The importance of understanding mental health problems

- Lisandra M. Hernández

Mental health problems exist in everyone's life, whether it be we face them or we know someone who does. And since a large portion of the population faces these problems at some point of their life, understanding them is something we should all do.

Our mental health affects the way we feel, think, act, and live our lives. So when we face problems with it, we tend to lose interest in the things we love and enjoy doing, and that can lead to us feeling overwhelmed and confused. When untreated, mental health problems can cause us to feel sadness, guilt, fear, anxiety, hopelessness and the feeling of not having control over our lives

The topic is not something we all have the courage to discuss, since in today's society, it's considered taboo or unimportant. We see it as a flaw or a sign of weakness, because of all the negative stigmas surrounding it.

When we stigmatize mental illness, which happens more than it should, it can lead to many people not coming forward and seeking the help they need, which causes them to live in a life that could be considered miserable. That way of life can, and has, led to lots of people “taking the easy way out” and being the victims of suicide. Just to put it in perspective, a study conducted by the HHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services) has found that approximately 60% of those who committed suicide had a condition such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or dysthymia(a milder, but long-lasting form of depression).

This is why I feel that understanding mental health and its problems is something beneficial to all of us, and we as a society should raise awareness to it. Eliminating the rumors and sigmas surrounding it, since this clearly demonstrates the link between mental health and problems caused by not receiving the proper care and medical intervention. The understanding of mental health problems can help us reach others and teach them about its importance, so that in the future we can help others to have a much healthier mindset and lifestyle.

When we start paying attention and understanding our mental health needs, we can create improvements for ourselves and for those around us, including:

• Improvement to our mood; which leads to a happier life without the constant ups and downs.

• Improved communication; this can help us in many ways, from creating new relationships to getting a job.

• Reduced risk of medical issues; because untreated mental illness can contribute to physical problems, like reducing the strength of your immune system’s, receiving proper treatment decreases your potential need for certain medical services.

• Reducing our anxiety; which can open up new opportunities for us, since we lose the constant fear and it helps us relax from the “fight or flight” mentality.

• Clear thinking; this is something we all take for granted, but being able to think clearly is something so important since it can improve concentration, enhanced creativity, increased productivity and lead us to have a better performance at places like work or school.

• A sense of inner peace; this leads to us being more calm and confident in our lives.

• Improving our relationships; either platonic or romantic, we all need a good stable relationship in our lives, it brings a sense of comfort to our souls.

• Increasing our self-esteem; it helps our self-confidence and the way we feel about ourselves.