Mental illness! Bigger than Covid-19?
Surely not.
We must be exaggerating, right?
But mental illness is touted to become a bigger problem than pandemic.
According to the recent report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) a billion people are affected by some or other mental illness or disorder. If this continues to go unnoticed and untreated, it may lead to many serious issues like premature death and reduced economic productivity as stated in the report.
The stats behind it-
In 2019, nearly 13% of the world’s population which amounts to 970 million are reported to be living with a mental health condition. While mental health issues can occur in all age groups and can affect people from every stratum. It is found that individuals belonging to low and middle-economic countries are more susceptible to mental illness.
Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are more likely to be seen in women than men, while men suffer from disorders related to substance abuse.
The stats as well as the information revealed in the report sheds light on the urgency of this matter. If not done anything then mental health distress could turn into something that goes way beyond our control. It will turn into an epidemic and then into a pandemic. An invisible pandemic.
Do we want to take it that far?
There is an immediate need for qualified mental health resources and professionals who could tackle the situation. Even more than that we need accessible mental health resources which can help surmount the difficult times. Aid should be provided to an individual who can’t afford mental care and it should be accessible to all.
The facts and the statistics will keep on increasing and the situation will turn direr. Until a change is bought, the rise of mental health-related issues will be piling upon in heaps.
Pandemic and mental health
It is no surprise that the pandemic and continuous lockdown not only tested our physical health but also our mental resilience. Mental health-related issues increased dramatically with more and more people being affected. According to a report, it is stated that a year after the pandemic disorders related to depression and anxiety increased by 28% and 26%. Pandemic has raised the occurrence and the onset of mental illness and adversely affected the quality of life.
Why we are bringing this report to you?
We don’t want to scare you. Nor do we want to pull you into the pit of negative news. But this is the ground reality. This is the world that we are living in and we need to accept it. No matter how hard it might seem.
Mental health issues are so widespread that almost every person will get affected by them at some point in their life. The severity and other factors may vary but the prevalence among the masses will be the same.
Do not be afraid even if you are affected by any mental health issue or disorder. Just know that you are not alone. You can always seek help. Things might seem difficult to navigate but know that you got this.
Acknowledge that mental health issues can affect anyone. It can happen to anyone you know or even you for that matter. Sometimes the mental disorders can manifest into other disorders and show symptoms other times they may not. But in any case, being sympathetic to those who face such tough times is imperative.
Most importantly do not judge those who are going through it. You don’t know the battles that someone is going through.
A note-
There is more to life and do not let your mental health issues rob you from leading an enriched life. Being diagnosed with a mental health disorder is not the end, it might be difficult but it doesn’t mean that your life has stopped.
Remember this.
image source- www.pixabay.com
