During the Covid period, I took an interest in studying mental health matters extensively. As I ingested the knowledge, I felt it would make so much sense to share it with my audience. We went through the process of learning together.
As we progressed, it became clear that most people don't know what mental health is. According to World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to address the stresses of life, understand their abilities, learn well and work well, and make contributions to their community.
People risk developing mental illnesses when they fail to protect their mental health. During our conversations in the Covid period, many linked mental illnesses to madness. They believed that people who suffered from mental illnesses were bewitched.
Now, with this kind of perception, many affected can't find the courage to come out and seek help. One lady who was depressed during that period shared with me that since she was a Christian, she was accused of not praying enough because, apparently, the demon of depression only oppresses non-believers. She was advised to fast and pray more.
Worth noting is that mental illness is a non-communicable disease like diabetes, cancer, asthma, hypertension, etc., and we all are at risk of developing mental illnesses because life circumstances happen to all of us. What distinguishes us is how we care for ourselves. Mental illnesses are not to be taken lightly, for they can be life-threatening. Once diagnosed, the patients require love and support from their loved ones.
What's lacking, however, is that the caregivers are not equipped enough to care for their loved ones suffering from mental illnesses. It is not easy seeing a family member who had everything figured out at the point of being unable to achieve anything. Family members are drained emotionally, which puts them at risk of developing mental illnesses. As with other non-communicable diseases, managing mental illness is costly and might render some families poor.
Based on the cost implication, many people living with mental illness don't get the desired attention. They, therefore, wind up incapacitated. Because their family members who happen to be their caregivers don't get proper support, they give up on their role.
Based on the times we are in, the rates of mental illness are bound to increase. This calls for proper investment in the mental health sector to make the services accessible. Even the people in the most remote areas deserve the decency of proper but affordable mental health services.