Mental health. When we talk about this, a lot of questions come to mind. Questions like, “What causes mental health issues? Are there treatments?

Mental health refers to our behavioural and emotional well-being; however, its crisis is any scenario in which a person’s actions, feelings, or behaviours put them in danger of injuring themselves or others.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics on mental crisis released in May 2021, it was estimated that; 26% of the world’s population suffer from anxiety; while 35% suffer from nervousness; 28% suffer from depression and 50% from psychological distress. See infographics below:

Recent research shows that an estimated 20% of people aged 18 and older, or 1 in every 4 adults, suffer from a mental issue in any given year. According to a 2021 study conducted by a reliable source, people are more prone to suffering from health crises if; they have suffered economic loss, have pre-existing medical conditions, or live in densely populated areas.

The question now is, what exactly causes this crisis?

Causes of Mental Crisis

There are many causes, however, some things may have a bigger impact on some people than others. For instance, the following items harm one’s psychological well-being; abuse, trauma, social isolation, racism, social deprivation, poverty, debt, adult drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and severe adolescent trauma.

Therapy does not suit everyone; instead, people can select the treatment or combination of different therapy that works best for them. Some of which include:

• Psychotherapy

The treatment of mental disease delivered by a skilled professional is known as psychotherapy. Psychotherapy analyzes thoughts, feelings, and actions to enhance a person’s well-being.

• Medication

Medication does not totally treat mental illness. However, it may help with symptom control. The most effective strategy to improve healing is to combine prescription with psychotherapy.

• Support Group

 A support group is a gathering of people who help each other achieve the common aim of rehabilitation. Support groups usually entail non-professionals who have gone through comparable situations.

•  Hospitalization

In special cases where a person’s mental health abruptly degrades, hospitalization may be required so that they can be carefully watched, correctly diagnosed, or have their treatment modified. And many others.

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, mental illness and poor mental health are different. Without having a mental illness identified, a person may still have poor mental health. A person with a mental condition might have times of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is also important to note that we should not look down on people suffering from a mental health crisis, but help and proffer solutions where necessary.