Mental Health
Original Editor - Lucinda hampton
Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Tolulope Adeniji, Cindy John-Chu and Aminat Abolade
Introduction
Mental health has a huge impact on every aspect of people's lives. It affects behaviour, physical health, work and relationships, as well as the people around them,
[1]The Who define mental health thus:
"Mental health is the foundation for the well-being and effective functioning of individuals. It is more than the absence of a mental disorder; it is the ability to think, learn, and understand one's emotions and the reactions of others. Mental health is a state of balance, both within and with the environment. Physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual and other interrelated factors participate in producing this balance. There are inseparable links between mental and physical health"[2]
Having poor mental health is often confused with having a mental illness. But mental health actually refers to a person's state of mental well-being whether or not they have a psychiatric condition.[3]Addressing mental health is crucial for promoting overall life satisfaction and preventing long-term negative outcomes.
Mental Disorders
Mental disorders refer to all of the diagnosable mental disorders. Mental disorders are characterized by abnormalities in thinking, feelings, or behaviours.[4] Mental health disorders can generally be grouped into categories. Some of the most common include:
- Anxiety disorders eg Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Eating disorders eg Anorexia Nervosa
- Mood disorders eg Bipolar Disorder
- Personality disorders eg Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Trauma- and stressor-related disorders eg Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Psychotic disorders eg Schizophrenia
See Mental Health - Conditions
Risk Factors
Risk factors that can increase the likelihood that a person may experience poor mental health, and include: Discrimination; Exposure to Trauma; Family History of Mental Illness; Being a Refugee: Low Income; Medical Illness; Poor Access to Health Services; Poor Self-Esteem; Poor Social Skills; Social Inequalities; Substance Use; Lack of Social Support; Unemployment or Job Insecurity..[3][5][6]
Mental Health Statistics Worldwide
Regrettably, worldwide mental health statistics show that the prevalence of mental illnesses has increased significantly over the past decade. Stigma and lack of awareness and support surrounding mental health problems fuel this rise.
- Over 970 million people in the world are affected by a mental health or substance use disorder.
- Mental health statistics by gender confirm that women are two times more likely to suffer from depression.
- About 9% of people suffer from eating disorders, based on the most recent global mental health statistics.
- 34% of Gen Z's stated their mental health got worse during the pandemic.
- LGBT adults are more at risk of mental health disorders (86% were bullied in school)[7].
- There is a a new emerging phobia specific to COVID-19, coronaphobia[8].
Physiotherapy Relevance
See Mental Health, Physical Activity and Physical Therapy
References
- ↑ Australian Government Mental Health Available:https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention/about-mental-health (accessed 20.4.2022)
- ↑ WHO Mental Health Available:https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/mental-health (accessed 20.4.2022)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Very well mind Mental health Available: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-mental-health-2330755(accessed 20.4.2022)
- ↑ Study BS, National Institutes of Health. Information about Mental Illness and the Brain. InNIH Curriculum Supplement Series [Internet] 2007. National Institutes of Health (US).
- ↑ Kim TJ, von Dem Knesebeck O. Is an insecure job better for health than having no job at all? A systematic review of studies investigating the health-related risks of both job insecurity and unemployment. BMC public health. 2015 Dec;15:1-9.
- ↑ Wang J, Mann F, Lloyd-Evans B, Ma R, Johnson S. Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review. BMC psychiatry. 2018 Dec;18:1-6.
- ↑ Loud Cloud health 45 Worldwide Mental Health Statistics to Blow Your Mind Available:https://loudcloudhealth.com/resources/mental-health-statistics/ (accessed 20.4.2022)
- ↑ Arora A, Jha AK, Alat P, Das SS. Understanding coronaphobia. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020 Dec 1;54:102384.Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33271693/(accessed 20.4.2022)