Shataghnee Chanda
Do you notice how we see a doctor when we sprain our ankle or catch a fever, yet when something is wrong in our mind and it doesn’t feel right and we are reluctant to make a visit?
But, when it comes to our mental health, we often take a back seat as if it has zero importance in our well-being! Well, here is the news: your mind needs treatment too, and your mental health treatment is second to none in any respect, compared to physical health care.
In recent years, mental health issues have surged globally, with an estimated 970 million people suffering from mental health conditions. Unfortunately, nearly 75% of people in low-income countries lack access to adequate mental health services, especially in countries like India. A staggering 83% of Indians do not have access to mental health treatment, according to a 2019 study. The lack of accessible care has serious consequences, especially as mental health plays a critical role in overall well-being, often intertwined with physical health. Addressing this issue is vital to prevent long-term damage to individuals and communities.
Now, when the world is fighting against the stigma around mental health, we need to understand that there is a difference between visiting your gym regularly and visiting a therapist for your mind.
In today’s article, we will go into further detail regarding why mental health treatment matters and how it can change lives. So, prepare yourself with a chai and dive deep with The One-Liner!
The biggest single barriers to treatment for people’s mental health come with the stigma that is attached to it. Mental illness has always been misconstrued, and so often those who seek help are thought of as “weak” or “broken”.
Because of this, it has fostered a culture where people fear bringing up their struggles, let alone seeking help
Stigma is very often based on ignorance and fear. You cannot see a mental health condition, whereas you can see someone has a broken leg or is ill. Because of this fact alone, people often minimise their struggles with their mental health, and the very idea of treatment becomes discouraging. Social connotations of “strength” and “resilience” add to the misconceptions that mental health is something that should be maintained discreetly behind closed doors.
Now, it is time to take down the stigma by having open conversations and education around mental health treatments. The more open we are with our mental health, the less shame or judgement someone would have looking to get professional support. Agree to disagree that seeking help doesn’t make you weak. Moreover, it makes them more robust to give importance to their well-being.
Treatment for mental health goes further than addressing disorders, such as depression and anxiety, but is one sure way of constructing better lives. Whether you are dealing with a serious mental health disorder or are simply trying to manage life’s pressures, treatment can offer ways to handle your feelings, construct coping mechanisms, and find ways of reinforcing mental resilience.
Your mental health helps determine how you relate to others, conduct yourself at your job, or even feel general happiness. Being uncared for, problems with one’s mental health spiral into a set of more severe issues, such as substance abuse, isolation, or physical illness.
An important aspect of treating a mental health disorder is early intervention. Just like physical health, the earlier the diagnosis, the less likely they are to get big. The earlier one treats his or her mental health, the less time it will take and the lesser the symptoms will be. Indeed, research has indicated that early intervention in mental health may make quite a huge difference and as such help ensure long-term improvement.
Mental health treatment comes in a variety, and it is not the same that works with one person or another. Fortunately, the beauty of the present mental health care system is that it has ranges designed for different needs.
Psychotherapy, also known as ‘therapy’, is one of the most prescribed treatment options available for treating an enormous array of mental health disorders. Here, a trained professional helps the patient to recognise and manage emotional troubles. Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy etc are some of the few approaches to it.
Sometimes, medication needs to intervene with the course of treatment for mental health. This can be especially true for all those going on antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and anti-anxiety medications that may control symptoms and help balance out brain chemistry. Many times, medication is much more effective when combined with other treatments, such as therapy or the like.
Some holistic treatments such as mindfulness, meditation, and yoga complement other mainstream medications and therapies. These teach individuals to cope with stress and help them understand themselves reasonably. Thus it’s positively affecting their well-being and mental health. For many, exercise, nutrition, and even art therapy form part of the treatment plan for mental health.
These support groups allow a person to be with others with similar struggles. Group therapy or peer support, is powerful in reducing feelings of loneliness, provides alternative perspectives, and creates a sense of community.
For thousands of years, the mind and body have been inevitably linked with each other. As physical health begins to worsen, it harms the health of the mind, and vice versa. Mental health treatment is made to allow the mind and body to find a healthy and harmonious balance.
Poor mental health often leads to physical symptoms such as headaches, problems in digestion, and weakened immune response. Several studies found that chronic stress increases heart disease and high blood pressure. Good mental health is as important as perfect physical health.
Physical activity also plays a major role in mental health treatment through physical activity. Aerobic exercise normally releases endorphins, which are generally referred to as mood elevators. Regular workouts have been shown to reduce signs of depression and anxiety, thus improving sleep and enhancing general well-being. Many programs designed for the treatment of mental health incorporate physical exercises during their treatment procedures.
One would not, or couldn’t, simply ignore a broken bone or serious illness, and for what reason would one do that with one’s mental health? The mind is always at work-myriads of emotions, decisions to be weighed, life’s ups and downs. It requires the same care and attention one bestows upon one’s body.
Desiring help for mental health is a form of care, thus caring about yourself is not selfish. Whether you have a mental illness or you feel devastated by the stresses in life, you deserve to have support. You invest in your mental fitness to get the best version you can be in all aspects of life.
It does not make you weak to reach out for mental health treatment; that makes you human. One does face difficulties in life, and sometimes it is okay to take a little help coming your way. The sooner that is done, the sooner one can start feeling better.
And it is as essential as your physical well-being, and it’s time to take mental wellness more seriously. Be it anxiety or depression that you may fight with, or you fight off the common and significant weight of everyday stress, there are mental health treatments that prepare you to live a balanced and fulfilling life.
Yet, rather than waiting for the storm to pass over one’s head, one must seek professional mental health advice, seek therapies, and try holistic approaches like mindfulness. With due care accorded to the mind, one ensures better mental health by improving physical health and quality of life.
It’s crucial to recognize and acknowledge your feelings, and take the necessary steps to seek help. Your mind is just as important as any other part of your body, and it deserves the same level of care and attention!