MENTAL WELLNESS AND ILLNESS: THE THIN LINE BETWEEN KEEPING UP AND GIVING UP

The mental health of every individual superimposes any other form of wellbeing that has to do with humans. It is not a contestable fact that the brain controls all the actions of the human body (mind and soul inclusive)

                Mental health is a very important aspect of human existence that every well-meaning individual must always ensure to take care of at all times irrespective of the many possible distractions and disturbances been thrown around. It is important to ensure that the mind is well taken care of because the effect of its wellness or illness is not only limited to the personae alone but everyone around this person.

                Mental illness is a psychological state of mind where one is either mentally imbalanced, disturbed, derailed or occasionally out of control. It is a disorder that has to do with several little disturbing factors and not only big and major worries and problems. Oftentimes, in the course of securing daily bread, pursuing a career, following a well-known and effective approach to life, we are posed with problems and obstacles in our endeavours. These so-called problems and obstacles often lead to sadness, worry, confusion and depression. The individual becomes perplexed, might lash out unnecessary, act with impulse, become aggressive and eventually resort to withdrawing from people due to frustration and possibly end up committing suicide.

                Mental illness is a disorder that can be remediated with the help of family, friends, colleagues, loved ones and also with the help of a professional psychiatrist, psychologist or both. Individuals suffering from mental health issues most times feel like the walls of a room (life in this context) is closing on them, they feel tensed, frustrated, agitated, depressed and often times resort to several immoral acts like drinking, smoking, use of hard drugs etc. to get off these unwanted feelings. They often think of going away from their immediate environment to an entirely new place where they think they might het a fresh start and possibly a new life or endeavour. It is an incontestable fact that you can only enjoy being human and a living being if you’re mentally stable. Mentally ill or disturbed persons do not enjoy their state of mind and might sometimes decide to quit living which is a supposed finalisation of their hardship, suffering, uneasiness and distress. Suicide is most times the last resort of such people. They take their lives after dropping a goodbye message or letter, a cryptic writing or some incomprehensible words.

                How do we help these people? Who can help these people? What form of help do they need? How do you detect that such people need help? These are several questions that needs to be succinctly answered if the thin gap between letting go and continue fighting is to be bridged.

                Mentally disturbed individuals can be helped through the financial help, counselling, rehabilitation and integration back into the society and constant monitoring, check-up and keeping up with their daily activities. These and many more possible steps must be taken to help mentally ill people come back to their normal and stable minds. Families, friends, Pastors, Imams, Teachers, Counsellors, Guardians, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Doctors and concerned loved ones are the best people to help mentally unstable individuals regain their normal selves. Detecting that a particular individual needs help is sometimes a herculean task because humans generally are of the habit of ‘‘suffering in silence’’. We tend to pretend as though everything is fine with us and mislead people who are with us into thinking there is perfection in our lives. Everyone must try to be very sensitive when dealing with others in order to be able to deduce if the person in question is acting right, thinking right and doing well.

                Mental health is so paramount that it cannot be compromised at all irrespective of the situation on ground. Due to the numerous causes and factors of mental instability or illness, we cannot take a general standpoint as to what precautionary measures to take in order to try to salvage or save the individual who is likely to ‘‘lose it’’. Optimum sensitivity to one another and constant checking up of one another has proven to be a veritable measure in detecting if there is ‘‘trouble in paradise’’ in some people’s lives.

                We all have a responsibility to look out for each other at all times irrespective of how busy we are or how occupied and far away we might be from people we love and care about. It is everyone’s job to be his or her ‘‘brother’s keeper’’. We are to complement and watch out for one another. We are to help one another. Let’s try to reach out to people more often than usual. You can never tell who needs someone to talk to before it gets too late. Let’s help ourselves in having a sound mental health.