Mental Health

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is a state of well-being that enables individuals to cope with everyday life, manage stress, work productively, and contribute to their families and communities.

What is mental illness?

Mental illnesses are health conditions that affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. Mental health illnesses can be managed and treated.

Causes of Mental Illness

Mental health illness can be triggered by different factors including:

• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems: mental illnesses sometimes run in families, suggesting that people who have a family member with a mental illness may be somewhat more likely to develop one themselves.
• Drug and alcohol abuse

Types of Mental Illness

Mental illnesses refer to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect ones’ mood, thinking and behaviour. Examples include:

• Depression,
• Anxiety disorders
• Behavioural disorder which may involve inattention, defiant behaviour, drug use, the exhibition of criminal behaviour
• Schizophrenia
• Eating disorders
• Addictive behaviours
• Personality disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Symptoms of mental health illness differ depending on the type and seriousness of the condition. Symptoms can include:

• Mood swings
• Social withdrawal,
• Strong feelings of anger
• Thoughts of suicide
• Long-lasting sadness
• Inability to cope with daily activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Loss of desire to participate in any activity,
• An unusual drop in functioning, at work, at the market at a gathering or social activities or difficulties performing familiar tasks. etc.

There are many myths and misconceptions that surround mental health problems. These result in the stigmatization, discrimination, and isolation of people living with mental health problems.

Learn the truth about the most common mental health myths.

Myth: Mental health problems cannot affect me

Fact: Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, income, social status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or background.

About 20 million Nigerians suffer from mental health problems of which a good number of them go without professional assistance (WHO-AIMS report)

Myth: Mental health conditions are a sign of weakness.

Fact: Mental health disorders have nothing to do with weakness or poor character. In fact, the opposite is true, fighting a mental health condition takes a great deal of strength.

Myth: People living with mental health conditions are likely to be perpetrators of violent acts.

Fact: The vast majority of people with mental health problems are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people living with mental health conditions are more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

Myth: I can’t do anything for a person with a mental health problem.

Fact: Friends and loved ones can make a big difference. Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by:

• Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help
• Helping them access mental health services.
• Treating them with respect.
• Refrain from defining them by their diagnosis or using labels such as “crazy”

Myth: Mental health conditions are permanent.
Fact: A mental health diagnosis is not a death sentence. Mental health conditions can be treated and with careful monitoring and management, one can live a fulfilled and productive life.