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Our mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is important to keep track and maintain good mental health as it is used to determine our emotional state, and can affect our overall physical well-being.
Mental illness or mental disorders describes a wide range of mental health conditions. These conditions can cause abrupt changes in our emotions, thinking, and behaviour which causes distress. Mental disorders can be caused by a variety of things such as biological factors (like genes), and traumatic life experiences. Examples of mental disorders may include depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.
When a person suffers from a mental disorder, it is suggested that they seek support from professionals like that of psychologists and psychiatrists. However, as education on mental health is still lacking, many are not aware of this. Mental health is still considered a “taboo” to many people, causing many of those who suffer from mental illness to feel shame and embarrassment. With the lack of support from those around them and receiving no treatment, people will end up bottling their negative emotions until it becomes too much and they resort to doing harmful things.
The negative impression people have on mental health will eventually form into a stigma. Mental health stigma is used to describe the societal disapproval and the shame that people place on those who suffer from mental disorders. These stigmas can come in many forms such as public stigma, structural stigma, as well as perceived stigma.
These stigmas are harmful as they are used to unfairly judge people who suffer from mental illness and disorder. It prevents many people from seeking the support that they undoubtedly require, and in the end, causes them to turn to harmful coping mechanisms.
From this, we can see how these stigmas negatively impact our society. The issue itself cannot be solved in a short period of time. Only with education and the people’s willingness to learn can we dispel the stereotypes and labels that have been placed on people who are suffering from mental health issues.
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