Mental Health: Awareness and Insight Into Disorders
- Cayla Younger, Parisa Yazdani, Bridget Chen
- Sep 28, 2021
- 4 min read
Mental Health Article
For far too long, talk of psychological disorders has been seen as taboo, making it very difficult for those affected to receive treatment and help. Not only this, but mental health is a very complex subject and someone can be affected by their genetics or the environment.
There are many mental health disorders prevalent in humans; however it is very important that people are educated on the specific symptoms of different mental health disorders. For starters, personality disorders are grouped into three clusters: Cluster A, B and C. Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by odd behavior which includes paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder. Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by intense distrust of others, unjustified beliefs and suspicions of loyalty, and hostility toward perceived slights and insults. Schizoid personality disorder is a lack of interest in personal relationships, unable to pick up social cues, limited emotional expression, and unwillingness to participate in activities. Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by overly emotional and unpredictable behavior which includes antisocial personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. Antisocial personality disorder is where one has a disregard for others’ feelings, manipulation, impulsive behavior, violation of the rights of others and the law, and disregard for the safety of others. For example in the hit 2020, Korean drama, It’s Okay to not be Okay, the main lead, Moon Young, has antisocial personality disorder due to her troubled childhood and toxic relationship with her parents. In Korea, mental health stigma is high. In It’s Okay to not be Okay, the strong focus on various mental health disorders like antisocial personality disorder, autism, PTSD, and mania makes it a unique show in the Kdrama world. Also under Cluster B disorders, Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by one constantly seeking attention, excessively emotional, and easily influenced by others. Cluster C personality disorders are characterized by anxious behavior like OCD otherwise known as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is intense preoccupation with close details, extreme perfectionism, desire to control people, stubbornness, and inability to disregard broken objects. Aside from personality disorders, there are many other mental health disorders. Dissociative Identity Disorder is a person with multiple and distinct personalities; these identities can control a person at different times, and often memory loss and depression can occur due to this disorder. PTSD otherwise known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is characterized by intrusive memories, nightmares, trouble sleeping, and irritability. This disorder is usually caused by past trauma. An example of a psychotic disorder is Schizophrenia which is characterized by hallucinations and impaired thinking. Symptoms can be prevalent when one is only 16 years old. Eating disorders are also common especially among teenage girls. Anorexia Nervosa includes symptoms of dramatic weight loss, sleep problems, menstrual irregularities in women, as well as dry skin. Bulimia is characterized by binge eating but purging later to eliminate the food eaten. Symptoms include body dysmorphia, vomiting, and eating large amounts of food in one sitting. Often, people overlook mental disorders, but it is important to recognize these symptoms and educate ourselves on these disorders. By doing this, we can help others, and create a safe community where those suffering from mental health disorders can share their experience.
Unfortunately due to COVID and the resulting quarantine, there has been an overall decrease in people’s mental health and wellbeing. During the pandemic, 4 out of 10 adults reported having anxiety or depressive disorder while originally the percentage of adults with these conditions was 10%. Of course much of this mental health decline was due to lack of communication and contact with other people, but additionally, evidence has shown a strong correlation between the economy and people’s mental health. With more unemployment, more people can feel hopeless. Additionally, essential workers had reported increased feelings of anxiety due to possible contact with the virus. As a result of the decrease in mental health and wellness during quarantine, there was an unfortunate increase in the amount of substance abuse and suicide. Substance abuse had increased 13% for older adults and 25% for younger adults due to the pandemic. Additionally, reported thoughts of suicide increased as a result of the pandemic. With people being forced to stay home and people experiencing a sharp decrease in social interaction, anxiety, depressive disorders, and suicidal thoughts are common.
Mental health is very important, and it affects how we feel and act. This can be a result of genetic or environmental factors. There are many warning signs to look at to tell if someone is struggling with their mental health. These signs can include a lack of or great increase in the amount of eating and sleeping. Additionally, feelings of low energy or numbness along with sudden mood changes can also indicate that someone may not be in the best state of mind. To make sure you and others are staying mentally healthy, make sure to always reach out and ask for help if it's needed and regularly stay connected to others. However, sometimes people are hesitant to ask for help because they are scared or embarrassed. If you notice someone struggling with mental health, it’s important to not overwhelm them with questions, attract a large group of people, or force ideas upon them. Instead, be willing to listen, regularly keep in contact, offer assistance, promote mental health awareness, help create a friendly and stress-free environment, and encourage self-care. Additionally, every day it's recommended to stay active, get enough sleep, and to focus on managing stress as best you can. If you think that someone you know may need help, reach out to someone you trust and don’t be afraid to seek help from trusted medical professionals.
September is Suicide Prevention Month which is where mental health advocates, surviviors, doctors, and prevention organizations unite together to promote mental health awareness. But, it’s important that every single month we educate ourselves on mental health awareness and stand with survivors. Here are some resources:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the United States: 800-273-8255.
The above article are the international suicide hotline numbers
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