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Mental Health: It Is Just Another Health Subdivision

Neutralizing a taboo. After the Renaissance, (15ththrough 17thcenturies), people with mental health issues were placedin an asylum. Prior to that period, anyone who showed symptoms of abnormality were often treated inhumanely. The earliest ideas of abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviors focused on two possible causes: supernatural forces and imbalance of substances within the body.The treatment ranging from exorcism to get rid of the demonic forces to Chinese qi practitioners’ treatment to find balance between body and spirit. As times goes by, the word mental was always being perceived as taboo. Going to a psychiatric clinic or hospital was a really big thing. One really took a great courage to go and seek a psychiatric treatment. Concerned with record at work even shame and blame in society and familymembers. For the past few years, mental health has become a widely spoken topiclocally as well as globally.We are also proud to be part of the catalyst vibetobring up positive awareness on mental health issues and understanding in the country.

“We all should learn from UTP” Professor Hairul NizamIsmail, President of Malaysian PsychologicalAssociation (PSIMA) commented on UTP Mental Wellness Week 2017. Emerging from the year, there are many awareness programs been organized by various institutions throughout the country. Mental health issues have started to be givenmore attention. Ministry of health has secured certain allocation in budget 2021 on mental health, including other social issues, amounted RM24million. This investment is to enhance programs addressingto theseissues. WHO has come out with a theme for world mental health day, “Mental Health for All, Greater Investment –Greater Access” for this year. It is to ensure that investment in mental health is being prioritized.

Mental health vs Mental Illness

Mental health is one of the general health issues. Mental health is always there, as either positive or negative. When mental health is negatively affected, it affects a person’s ability to function over certain period, a person needs to seek psychiatric treatment. There are lists of mental disorders available. By being diagnosed with at least one of them, it is sufficient to regard a person is having a mental illness. Without a diagnosis, it is only be regarded as a problem or issue, not an illness.

Mental health from illness to wellness

In practice, mental illness is always seen as in a continuum. Our mental health falls on a continuum, ranging from excellent mental health to severe symptoms.Everyone experiences emotional distresses differently. It is very normal to experience some of these symptoms, and it is a matter of degree, intensity and duration that differentiates typica experiences from the ones that indicate a need for professional help.

Causes of Mental Health

While negative life eventis often cited as a cause of mental health issue, in most cases poor mental health is a result of partly of genetics and partly life circumstances,especially childhood negative experiences, as well as current problems such as recent or current stresses of bereavement, physical illness, or any other negative experiences. The genetic, triggeringand maintaining factors. These also known as biopsychosocial factors.

Definition

Accordingto the World Health Organization (WHO), mental healthis “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” This definition is also adopted by Malaysian Ministry of Health concerning mental health. There are four important aspects mentioned in the definition of a fine mental health:

1.Realizing own potentials. This includesthe strengths and weaknesses. Getting to know self in the best perspective and understanding.

2.Ability to cope with stress. Stress is inevitable. A healthy person will be able to march on amidst of any challenges.

3.Ability to be productive. Able to be a benefit for him or herself.

4.Ability to be a benefit and contribute to othersand community.

National Health and Morbidity Survey(NHMS)

This survey is a survey held by MalaysianMinistry of Health. This study givesan overall pictureof health and morbidity issues in Malaysia and it is conducted once in a few years. Latest NHMS, NHMS 2019 released in June 2020. The findings show that the mental health issueis affected even those at younger age.Halfof all mental disorders begin by the age of 14, and three-quarters by mid-20s.

This shows that there is possibility mental illness prevalent rate keep increasingdue to earlier onset age.

Take care of our mental health: What to do?

•Be flexible.

•Set reasonable expectations for yourself and others.

•Realize that we may not be able to be in the best self at all time. It is alright to act human.

•Avoid information overload or extra stimuli if those stimuli will make you negatively affected. Feed your senses with positive stimulionlypossible.

•Acknowledge that the feelings of distress are reasonable and even expected sometime.

•Do something for someone else. Exercise kindness and empathy.

•Maintain healthy eating, sleep patterns, exerciseand keep in touch with nature.

•Identify three things daily that you are grateful for in your life.

•Use calming, relaxation, and mindfulness practices.

•Do your prayer.

Do our part to others.

We can curb or minimize others' mental health issuesby being curious(not nosy) about our community wellbeing, supportive, validating their feelings, and compassionate when someone is open about their mental health issue. Help or encourage them to seek professional help should their situation persist or escalate.

On a final note

Having a mental health issue does not excuse one’s behaviour; the suffereris quite responsible for their own behaviour, especially if they are still in touch with reality. At their best stage, they should try to make an effortto recover and seek treatment.Fortunately, healing from mental health issues is very possible. There are many mental health serviceproviders available throughout the country either in government, private sectors, or NGO, apart from services provided by your university. Earlier treatment seeking,correlates well with healing. Together decrease the stigma connected to mental health issues, which is a giant step toward normalizing mental health treatment, so fewer people suffer in silence. You can be part of this solution. We all can be part of it. After all, human nature is the same regardless of colour, race,or nationality. Mental health is just another form of healthmatters.

References:

Rosenberg, R.S., & Kosslyn,S.M. (2011). Abnormal Psychology.

Worth PublishersWorld Health Organization (WHO)National Health & Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019

National BudgetReport2021

Article written by:

AzlinaMohd Lazim I Psychologist  I azlina.lazim@utp.edu.my