Sundaymail Editor
Mertha Mo Nyamande
ACCORDING to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realises 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”.
Mental health includes “subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence and self-actualisation of one’s intellectual and emotional potential, among others”.
What are mental health problems?
From the definition given above, mental health problems are not an illness in the strict sense of the word “ill”, but are disorders, a deviation from particular social norms.
Breaking down the WHO and psychology definitions, mental health is essentially a person’s belief versus his or her reality, and if there is a disparity between the two, the individual is likely to struggle.
The nature and degree of their struggle is determined by how far apart those two elements are. The further off one is, the more they will struggle. Labelling these disorders help to manage, treat or contain them.
All mental disorders have been categorised into seven classes as follows:
Spectrum disorders
These are attention deficit disorders seen in children as autistic or hyperactive. They are often problematic in that they are quite disruptive in nature, especially if certain safety spaces are not maintained.
Autistic children would ordinarily maintain a certain routine, and if it is disrupted, they become disturbed and highly distressed.
The opposite end of the spectrum is the hyperactivity feature, where the child has too much energy and is hardly able to settle and concentrate on things, as may be expected.
Therefore, trying to get them to follow a routine is often futile, marred with tantrums and other disruptive behaviours.
Identity disorders
These are mainly sexual and/or gender-based. They often manifest themselves in adolescent stages, but not limited to this level.
Like other disorders, they can be developmental, which means one can grow with them into adulthood if the right help is not provided.
Sexual or gender identity disorders can be carried throughout life.
Most of them are hidden depending on societal understanding and sensitivity. In Africa, for example, it is rare to find a man wearing a dress and makeup being accepted in formal spaces.
Gender identity is fairly accepted in Western societies, where hormonal surgery is also available in public health systems.
Such is the complexity of mental health and its disorders, as what is acceptable in one society may not be accepted in another.
Additionally, violence and beating up wives and children may be considered normal and acceptable in patriarchal communities, while they are offences in other societies.
Mood disorders
These are yet another spectrum, from low mood depressions to high mood manias, and a combination of both, often referred to as bipolar. Mood disorders are quite common in other disorders, as they highlight the component of hopelessness and helplessness.
This is also where most devastating outcomes such as suicides emerge.
Depression is classified as mild, moderate or severe, where the mild to moderate can function in society, going to work, et cetera, but just not performing their optimum.
Severe cases manifest themselves where suicides and other difficulties in relationships occur.
Psychosis is also common in severe depression. Depression can also be a response to difficult situations. Manias are also known to be hypo or hyper.
Anxiety disorders
These are associated with extreme fear of circumstances, objects or creatures.
They are often triggered by certain adverse events that become difficult for the individual to process. As such, one strives to avoid them until and unless help is provided.
Some anxiety disorders are subconscious in that the individual is unable to remember the event, but still suffers their distress, like in traumatic events.
Out of these also come other conditions like obsessive compulsive disorders. Anxiety disorders can also be learnt from environments, where a child can, for example, learn their parent’s phobias.
Personality disorders
These are types of ingrained rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving that develop early in life. Personality disorders are grouped into clusters: dramatic/emotional/erratic, anxious/avoidant and odd/eccentric based on similar characteristics and symptoms, and are associated with significant distress or disability.
Personality disorders only exist as a result of the prolonged period one has had a particular disorder.
Psychotic disorders
They arise when one’s senses are compromised and one becomes disorientated from one’s shared reality. Someone hears voices, sees, tastes, feels and smells things that others around them do not experience.
These are the extreme aspects of mental health disorders. They are the common type referred to when people talk about mental health.
Dementias
Dementias are when the brain is affected to the point that certain brain areas no longer function as they should, often leaving the individual disorientated, unable to remember things nor coordinate and perform simple daily tasks. Dementias often affect the elderly, but can affect the younger populations due to various reasons.
All mental disorders are often indicated by either emotional or behavioural features.
While there may be neurological and endocrinological explanations, it is often what is seen that professionals seek to study and remedy. Common symptoms are poor sleep, sudden change in appetite, mood changes and activity, motivation and energy levels.
All mental disorders are treatable, apart from dementias, but they all differ in the length to effect real change. The only treatment currently available for dementia can only slow down the deterioration.
Therefore, early detection and intervention is crucial.
Mertha Mo Nyamande is a psychotherapist. He can be contacted on [email protected]
Online Reporter