What is Mental Health & Why is it important for Females?

Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all part of our mental health. It has an effect on the way we think, feel, and act. It also influences how we deal with stress, interact with others, and make good decisions. Mental health is crucial at all stages of life, including childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Poor mental health and mental disorder is not the same thing, despite the fact that the words are often used interchangeably.



A person's mental health will deteriorate without being diagnosed with a mental illness. An individual suffering from a mental disorder may also go through periods of physical, mental, and social well-being. 

Statistics- You are not alone:

In 2019, 20.6 percent of adults in the United States suffered from mental illness (51.5 million people). This equates to one out of every five adults.

In 2019, 5.2 percent of adults in the United States were diagnosed with a severe mental illness (13.1 million people). This equates to one in every twenty adults.

In 2016, 16.5 percent of American youth aged 6 to 17 had a mental health problem (7.7 million people)

In 2019, 3.8 percent of adults in the United States had a co-occurring drug use disorder and mental illness (9.5 million people)

In 2019, 44.8 percent of adults in the United States with mental illnesses received care.

In 2019, 65.5 percent of adults in the United States with severe mental illness received care.

In 2016, 50.6 percent of American youth aged 6 to 17 who had a mental health condition received medication.

It takes an average of 11 years from the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment.

Treatment rates for adults in the United States with any mental disorder, by age group:

Males make up 36.8% of the population.

Females make up 49.7% of the population.

If you have mental health issues, your thought, attitude, and actions will be influenced over the course of your life. Many causes play a role in mental illness, including:

  • Genes and brain chemistry are examples of biological causes.

  • Trauma or violence are examples of life experiences.

  • Mental health issues run in the family


Symptoms to Look Out for Mental Illness:

  • Pulling away from people and normal activities by eating or sleeping too much or too little

  • Lacking or having no energy

  • Feeling traumatized or as if nothing is essential

  • You're experiencing unexplained aches and pains.

  • If you're feeling weak or hopeless, there's a good chance you're

  • Higher than average smoking, drinking, or drug use

  • Feeling unusually perplexed, forgetful, agitated, angry, irritated, worried, or afraid

  • Family and friends yelling or battling

  • Having extreme mood swings that trigger relationship problems

  • Hearing voices or thinking things that aren't real Having recurring thoughts and memories that you can't get out of your mind

  • Consider self-harm or hurting others.

  • Incapability to carry out everyday activities such as caring for your children or going to work or school.

Are you unsure if you or anyone you know is suffering from mental illness? One or more of the feelings or behaviours mentioned below may be an early warning sign of a problem:

Why is mental health important?


Our mental wellbeing has an effect on how we deal with stress, interact with others, and make decisions. Individuals' mental wellbeing has an impact on how they view themselves, their families, and those in their lives. Mental health, like physical health, is critical at all stages of life. Serious Mental Health Issues Can Affect Children and Adolescents

Children and adolescents, like adults, may suffer from mental health issues that affect how they think, feel, and act. 

Many people don't realise that mental health disorders are more common in young people than they think.

How do you keep your mental health evaluated?

Positive mental health and wellness allows you to work well, maintain meaningful social relationships, have positive self-esteem, and cope better with life's ups and downs.

Keeping our minds in good shape is crucial to our overall health and well-being.

Spend time with friends, loved ones, and people you trust, talk about or share your emotions on a regular basis, minimise alcohol intake, and avoid illegal substance use, stay healthy and eat well, learn new skills, and push yourself to new limits.

Set achievable goals and relax and enjoy your hobbies.

Take a break and get enough rest.

Healthy Eating for Mental Health:

A healthier brain and emotional state can be achieved by eating less refined foods.

We're told from a young age that eating healthy makes us look and feel our best. What we don't often hear is that healthy nutrition has a huge impact on our mental health. A well-balanced, nutritious diet will help us think more clearly and feel more alert. It can also help with focus and attention span.

An unhealthy diet, on the other hand, can cause fatigue, slowed reaction time, and impaired decision-making. In reality, a poor diet may exacerbate stress and depression, and may even cause it. The dependence on processed foods by society is one of the most serious health issues. These foods are soaring in flour and sugar, which train the brain to crave them instead of nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables. 

Depression and anxiety are two common side effects of stress.

Focus on consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, to improve your mental health.

Dark green leafy vegetables, in particular, protect the brain. Nuts, seeds, and legumes like beans and lentils are also good for the brain.

Researchers are continuing to prove the old adage that you are what you eat, most recently by looking into the close connection between our intestines and our brain. 

Eating With Intention:

One of the first steps in ensuring you're having well-balanced meals and snacks is to pay attention to how you feel when you eat and what you eat. Nutritionists suggest keeping a food log so many of us don't pay attention to our eating habits. It's a good idea to keep track of what you eat, when you eat it, and when you eat it.



References:

Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with comorbid severe depression, Abramowitz JS. Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 60, no. 11, pp. 1133–1141. Abramowitz JS, Schwartz SA, Moore KM, et al. [PubMed] Abramowitz JS, Schwartz SA, Moore KM, et al. A analysis of the literature on obsessive-compulsive symptoms in pregnancy and the puerperium. 2003;17:461–478 in Journal of Anxiety Disorders. R. Adler, A. Vasiliadis, and N. Bickell. [PubMed] Adler, R., Vasiliadis, A., and Bickell, N. A systematic analysis of the relationship between continuity and patient satisfaction. Family Practice, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 171–178, 2010. Adli M, Bauer M, Rush AJ. [PubMed] Adli M, Bauer M, Rush AJ. Are algorithms and collaborative-care systems successful in the treatment of depression, and if so, why? A thorough examination. Biological Psychiatry, 59, 1029–1038, 2006.(Pubmed)




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