Mental Health: Quiet Cry for Help

1. Mental Health: Quiet Cry for Help When we learn about health and diseases, the ailments that come to our mind are the ones that affect us physically. Emotional and mental illnesses are often looked over by the majority of people. With the spread of Coronavirus, everyone believes that a plague is on the brink, but no one would believe that in a way, a plague is already upon us. This plague is not a disease which affects the human population physically, but mentally. The youth, the new generation, are hugely affected by some or other kinds of `mental illness. These could be any mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. These range from depression to suicidal tendencies. According to a study, almost 25% of children between the age of 13- 18 years are affected by anxiety, which, if left untreated, can give rise to children performing poorly in school and missing out on social interactions. Additionally, a shocking study from WHO states that 1 in 3 people all around the world suffer from anxiety. With this extent of mental illness, how could it not be called a plague? A widespread illness? We need to take firm steps to take care of this ever-increasing problem, and for that, various mental health services are now active and easily available for those who require help. The first step of mental health treatment is by recognizing early signs and acting on them. Irregular sleep patterns, eating disorders, acute mood swings, thoughts of harming oneself, etc., all could be signs of mental illness. If the early signs are acted upon, treatment of any mental illness, just like any physical illness in its early stages, can be effortless. There are various institutions solely dedicated to mental health awareness and treatment. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI), are some of those institutes whose research is based on mental health treatment and are always active in the outreach of treatment of mental illnesses. According to statistical data, there are almost 12,000 institutes and facilities dedicated to mental health treatment. Some of these provide residential facilities while some have outpatient facilities, many available for 24 hours. LifeInSight is a non-profit organization, working towards creating awareness regarding mental health and aiding in various mental health research papers from around the world. References: 1.https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions 2.https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/mental-health-services- and-programs-explained 3.https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health 4.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml Content source- https://lifeinsightinc.tumblr.com/post/612814653841702912/mental-health- quiet-cry-for-help