May is Mental Health Awareness Month
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- May 14, 2021
Each year many people face the reality of living with mental illness.
May, being the month of Mental Health Awareness, is all about providing support, fighting stigma and educating the public on mental health.
Mental health is very essential to an individual. When a person shares about what he or she is thinking or when stressed out, creates awareness and the need to get help too.
It is estimated in Kenya that one in every four people suffer from mental disorder.
In 2020 the Mental Health Taskforce urged the government to declare Mental illness a National Emergency to prioritize mental health a priority to public health.
Mental health affects a person’s daily living, relationships and physical health.
Looking after mental health preserves one’s ability to enjoy life, by balancing between life activities and responsibilities.
Conditions such as anxiety disorder and depression, stress can affect a persons mental health.
Substance abuse such as alcohol can also cause mental disorder, it is reported the youths aged 18-25 years of age consume alcohol at large, causing more cases of mental disorder.
According to World Health Organization (WHO):
“Mental health is a state of well being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities can cope with normal stresses of life,can work productively and is able to make contribution to the community”
Everyone is at risk of developing a mental disorder hence the need of mental awareness.
Factors that contribute to mental health disorder include;
- Social and economic pressure – lack of financial stability, lack of occupation and education can lead to mental stress.
- Anxiety and depression: March 2020 when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in Kenya many people were negatively affected with daily increase of those infected with the virus, which led to many being mentally affected.
- Biological Factors; Family mental illness can be a genetic factor that can also lead to mental illness from one family member to another.
People should look out to possible signs in their close one’s to identify if someone is experiencing mental health.
Low energy, being confused, avoiding activities that they normally do, can be signs they are mentally disrupted.
No one should feel alone, support them and help the needy. Find ways to stay connected with your community.
