Mental health is a vital component in one’s overall well-being and life experience. A mental disorder is characterized by a medical condition that severely impairs one’s life through behavior, cognition, emotion, or all these things at once. The rising mental health crisis not only affects individuals but also impairs community relationships and multiple socioeconomic factors.
This article aims to help you understand the rising mental health issues and ways to help someone or yourself deal with them. Read below for the latest statistics and the simplest ways you can better understand mental health and take action to make yourself better.
The Rise and Demand of Mental Health Services
In recent years, mental health and its importance have been rapidly recognized on a global spectrum. Following the peak of the COVID-19 crisis from 2019 to 2022, there is an influx of diagnosed patients with mental disorders, primarily depression or addiction-related disorders.
Based on a recent report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, at least 40% of people, from young adults to seniors, have experienced a mental disorder, with some acquiring it as a lifetime condition.
And that number continues to rise due to varying factors inside and outside their homes. This shows that a need to address the rising demand for mental health services is ever more critical. And with the general taboo of hiding away their mental disorders still holding in some cultures, the numbers published may be higher if we consider these undiagnosed individuals.
That said, the best way to address this starts from ourselves. So, how do we help ourselves or our community with mental health? And how can we approach people undergoing crisis? While we are not experts, here are some ways we can help. In no time, we can lead people from hiding their distresses to caring for themselves, like knowing when to take lexapro or other medications and improving their overall health.
Be Wary of The Signs
One of the initial and most significant signs when someone is dealing with a mental health crisis is their behavior. Regardless of their unique mental health crisis, there are specific examples that you can check once you interact with them. Here are some examples.
- Neglect on Personal Hygiene or hygiene-related conditions
- Dramatic change of sleeping patterns (Too much or too little sleep)
- Drastic decline in work/school performance
- Lack of motivation or withdrawal from their usual activities.
- Drastic weight gain/loss.
Cases vary from one person to another, and sometimes, some don’t even show symptoms at all. Think back over the past and try to differentiate their behaviors then and now. It is crucial that these symptoms are addressed and intervened as early as possible. As with the nature of all disorders of any kind, the longer this gets untreated, the harder it is to help them.
Allow Them to Vent Out
If you suspect someone is experiencing some kind of mental distress, connecting with them is the best first step to help them. Being supportive and non-judgemental to their feelings and what they say, even as simple as a casual conversation, brings tremendous improvement.
That said, do this by staying calm, making an effort to listen more, and allow them to take long pauses to collect their thoughts. Do not rush, cut them off, or make them uncomfortable. Show them that you can be trusted without passing judgment. If done well, they can get themselves on a path of self-improvement.
Create Connections
Good relationships are vital in creating a safe support system for everyone. For people experiencing mental distress, a reliable support group gives them the following:
- A sense of worth of belonging
- Provide vital support in cases of medical or psychological interventions
- A reliable group to share positive experiences and discuss issues in a non-judgmental environment.
Create good connections with your mutual friends or their family. It would be best if your group could meet with the individual at a fixed time, like every Sunday or every other day if possible. The more the individual gets positive interactions, the stronger the relationship will be, pushing them to be more confident and secure.
Refer To a Professional
The best way to address the mental crisis is to connect them with a professional to resolve it holistically. You can explain that we have professionals who can create a treatment plan and lead them to improve their lives. Additionally, mental health professionals are highly trained specialists who handle various emotional and behavioral problems.
This skill set is particularly critical to address the concerns head-on. With medical and scientific techniques, you can get them to take vital medications and follow through treatments for the long term.
Takeaway
The more we learn about mental health and get recognized, the more numbers we see about individuals seeking such help. As it stands, mental health is still an invisible enemy that we have yet to understand fully. Fortunately, we have learned enough to take the first step in helping ourselves against it. By being genuine, non-judgemental, and supportive of people with different crises, you can take the first step in curbing the rising demand for mental health, one conversation at a time.
