Let us talk about mental health (2)

PUNCH

Last week, we started discussions on mental health. Before we proceed, please permit me to share a story with you.

Sometime last year, my two-and-a-half-year-old outspoken niece, Mojoyinoluwa Oladejo, threw the whole family into panic. Her father bought a head of bush meat and the whole family ate it. According to her mother, my sister, she woke up in the middle of the night and started crying. She held her stomach and complained of stomach pain. She also kept saying, “Akata’s head is in my stomach.” (Akata is the name she gave the animal whereas the animal is called Akika in Yoruba). They rushed her to the hospital and after some injections were administered to her, they were told to take her to another hospital. At that point, my sister said she started crying because she felt her child was poisoned.

At the second hospital, her blood sample was taken but the results showed nothing was wrong with her! Obviously, she might have dreamt about the bush meat head she ate during the day. If something was wrong, all the test results would have shown it.

Sometimes, when there is no medical illness that fully explains the complaint, it may be that emotions are being felt as physical symptoms.

What is mental illness? A mental illness is a health issue. It can affect your thoughts, mood or behaviour. It can impact the way you perceive the world around you. It can cause distress. It may affect how you cope at work, how you function in relationships and your ability to manage everyday tasks. It can last for a short time or for your whole life. Some mild mental illnesses last only a few weeks. Sometimes severe illnesses can be life-long and cause serious disability.

Everyone is at some risk of developing mental health disorders, regardless of age, sex, income or ethnicity. Some examples of these factors include:

1. Genetic factors

Having a close family member with a mental illness can increase the chance that you may get a mental illness. However, just because one’s family member has a mental illness does not mean that others will.

1. Drug and alcohol abuse

Illicit drug use can trigger a manic episode (bipolar disorder) or an episode of psychosis. Drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines can cause paranoia.

1. Biological factors

Some medical conditions or chemical imbalances in the brain can lead to one having a neurological disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or having had a traumatic brain injury.

1. Early life experience

Examples are adverse childhood experiences such as trauma, neglect or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.

1. Trauma and stress

In adulthood, traumatic life events or ongoing stress can increase the risk of mental illness. Issues such as social isolation, domestic violence, relationship breakdown, and financial or work problems can impact mental health. Traumatic experiences such as living in a war zone can increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

1. Personality factors

Having feelings of loneliness or isolation, some traits such as perfectionism or low self-esteem can increase the risk of depression or anxiety.

There are many types of mental health disorders. I really do not want to bore you with their names. Instead, let us look at the symptoms you need to look out for.

Each type of mental illness has a different set of symptoms. For example, extreme dieting may be a sign that someone has an eating disorder. Hearing voices could be a sign of psychosis. An ongoing feeling of hopelessness after childbirth could be a sign of postnatal depression. People with depression can have a lasting sadness or low mood. People with anxiety often have excessive worry or fears.