What Is Mental Health
Mental health is a state of physiological well-being, which includes the individual’s ability to enjoy life and create a perfect balance between daily activities and physiological toughness. It includes positivity, productive thoughts, attitude, aptitude and emotional well-being. It even controls an individual’s ability to deal with stress, burden and difficult circumstances. It is vital to be mentally healthy in every phase of life from childhood, adolescence to adulthood.
What Affects The Mental Health Of Adult
There are various reasons that affect the mental health of adults. Some of them are financial problems, family issues such as divorce, medical chronic conditions like cancer, losing a loved one, unemployment, breakup, traumatic experiences like assaults, loneliness etc.
Common Mental Health Conditions Among Adults
Depression
Depression is also called a major depressive disorder or clinical depression. It is a mood disorder, a tenacious feeling of sadness and loss of engrossment. One might not socialise much and have negative thoughts. Some symptoms include feeling sad, loss of appetite, being isolated, getting angry at small things, mood swings etc.
A common reason for depression in adults can be financial problems, unemployment, assault, troubling relationships etc. Depression is estimated to occur among 15.2% of those between 18-25 years, 8.4% of the 26-49 age group, and 4.7% of the 50+ age group. In India, it is estimated to be 43% of the population, mostly adults. However, the condition can be mitigated with medication, talk therapy and psychotherapy.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism is generally characterised by social and conveying difficulties and monotonous behaviours. This commonly includes difficulty in understanding the emotions of people; carrying out day-to-day life; trouble in illuminating facial expressions, body language or social indications; illuminating one’s thoughts and feelings with other people, facing problems in continuing conversations, continuing specific work; not trying or leaving one’s comfort level; stressing over something without showing feelings, etc.
It is estimated that about 2.2% of US adults and 0.20% of Indian adults have autism. Other common symptoms include not finding a best friend, not socialising and seizures. It is a long-term condition but can be treated with speech and behaviour and sensory therapies, but there is no medicine to cure it.
Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotional problem common in adults. It occurs due to nervousness, panic, negative news or fear of something. Some common examples of anxiety can be negative news, traumatising events, insecurities etc. Anxiety is prevalent among 19.1% of US adults and 19% of Indian adults. Some common symptoms of anxiety are heavy breathing, sweating, feeling weak and tired, feeling tense, trembling etc.
There are various types of anxieties, including agoraphobia (develops due to panic attacks and leads to a person feeling of helplessness, embarrassment, getting sudden panic), health anxiety (getting anxious about minor health problems having a fear to get a chronic disease and a person might visit doctor frequently), generalised anxiety disorder (trouble in sleeping, not being able to concentrate, overthinking etc.) hoarding disorder (not able to part away the valuables and feeling, accumulating old newspapers and magazines), obsessive-compulsive disorder (unreasonable thoughts, fear of germs, overthinking etc.), panic disorder (intense fear due to threat or because of some danger), social anxiety disorder (not interacting much, feeling nervous about being judged by others, not being able to respond properly in a conversation etc.), post-traumatic stress disorder (having nightmares due to depressing events, overthinking, feeling angry, feeling guilt etc.) body-focused repetitive behaviours (like onychophagia or biting nails due to nervousness).
Bipolar Disorder
There are three types of bipolar disorders.
Bipolar I Disorder: In this, a person goes through a manic experience that lasts at least seven days, or manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs urgent hospital care. Normally depressive experiences occur as well, naturally lasting at least two weeks. In this, a person goes through issues like getting irritated, high energy, strange behaviour, difficult life etc. Also, people with bipolar disorder usually experience depression too. It is estimated to be around 2.8% of the US population. It cannot be cured but some therapies might control the illness.
Bipolar Disorder II: It involves at least one distressing experience lasting at least two weeks and at least one dementia experience lasting at least four days. Distressing symptoms include sadness or hopelessness. Dementia symptoms include a steady overhead or irritable mood. It is estimated to be around 0.6% of India’s population according to 2017 data and 2.8% of the US adults.
It’s chronic and life long cannot be cured but just be controlled.
Cyclothymic Disorder
The mood shifts in cyclothymia aren’t as radical as those in people with bipolar disorders. People with cyclothymia can naturally function in daily life, although it may be difficult.
Symptoms include isolated psychological highs and lows that may become more prominent over time.
It is estimated to be around 0.4-1% of the US population. It is estimated to be 6.9% in India. It cannot be cured but therapies might work to control it.
Personality Disorder
Personality disorder is a prevalent condition wherein people experience patterns of thinking, distinguishing, reacting and relating that cause specific distress or functional disability. There are various types of personality disorders such as paranoid personality disorder, Cluster A personality disorder (having odd and abnormal behaviour), schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, Cluster B personality disorder (feeling dramatic and emotional), antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, Cluster C personality disorders and avoidant personality disorder.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Physical, emotional trauma or any psychological factor can be a cause of paranoid personality disorder. It normally begins in adulthood. A person with this condition may appear to behave in an ‘abnormal’ way. Symptoms include suspicion that the other person may harm or hoax you, might hurt the loyalty, having the fear that others might use the information to threaten you, aggressive reaction to small insults, having a suspicion that your partner might deceive you etc. It is prevalent in 4.4% of the population. There is no cure for it but physiotherapy might improve the condition.
Schizoid personality disorder
In Schizoid personality disorder, a person avoids socialising. Symptoms include preferring to be alone, not getting involved or even thinking of having a relationship moreover not showing interest in having sex, not enjoying anything, not expressing emotional expression etc. It is more common in men and is estimated to be around 3-4% of the world’s population. It cannot be cured but is expected to improve with long-term therapies.
Antisocial personality disorder
A person going through this is being ignorant towards other people. Some symptoms of this condition include having violent behaviour, being irresponsible, neglecting others needs and feelings etc. It is estimated to occur in 0.5-3.5% of the general population. There is no cure for this condition but therapies might improve the condition.
Narcissistic personality disorder
This is a condition in which a person has a dilated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. Symptoms of this include arrogance, thinking that you are more important than others, having expectations for a favour from others, amplification of even small accomplishments etc. No cure but talk therapy can help in this condition. Around 5% of the population experiences a narcissistic personality disorder.
Dependent personality disorder
In this condition, a person has a feeling of helplessness, trouble making decisions, behaving in an abnormal manner etc. Symptoms include lack of confidence, wanting to start a relationship, vicious behaviour, enduring insults when other options might not be available etc. It’s common among women and is estimated to occur in less than 1% of the population. This condition cannot be cured.
Avoidant personality disorder
A person going through this condition avoids social contact, feels shy and avoids being intimidated. Symptoms include feeling inferior, feeling of embarrassment, shyness, sensitivity towards rejection etc. It is estimated to occur in 2.1% to 2.6% of the population and cannot be cured.
Histrionic personality disorder
People with this condition have a desire to be noticed and try things to gain attention. It is more common among women than men. Some of the symptoms include easily getting influenced by others, being cautious about their physical looks, trying to seek attention, being highly emotional etc. It is estimated to occur in 2.1% of the population and cannot be cured.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
People with this condition have unreasonable thoughts, fear of germs etc. Some of the symptoms include spending a lot of money, being stubborn, not being able to discard some objects, overthinking, neglecting friends etc. It is estimated to occur in 1.2% of US adults. and is not curable.
Borderline personality disorder
This condition commonly deals with unstable moods and relationships. Some of the symptoms include intense and unstable relationships, mood swings, suicidal thoughts, being angry, binge-eating, feeling lonely etc. It is estimated that 15% of US adults and 1.07% of Indian adults have borderline personality disorder. It cannot be completely cured but therapies are available.
Schizophrenia Among Adults
It is a chronic condition and has lifelong treatment. A person with schizophrenia often has to deal with problems involving emotions, behaviour and thinking. Symptoms include hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing a person or things that actually don’t exist), delusions (having inaccurate beliefs that don’t happen in reality, such as getting stuck in a crisis, being assaulted etc.), disorderly speech (using different words that don’t make sense) not taking care of personal hygiene, not making eye contact with people, not socialising, being depressed etc.
Stages Of Schizophrenia
Prodromal: It is referred to as the first stage of schizophrenia. In this stage, behavioural as well as analytic changes take place in that person. Symptoms include anxiety, being isolated, insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), neglecting personal hygiene (bathing, brushing etc.), getting annoyed at small things, facing difficulty in focusing etc.
Active: It is referred to as the second stage of schizophrenia. In this stage, a person begins to smell, feel, hear, imagine things that aren’t real. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, mumbling, roaming around, being confused etc.
Residual: In this stage, a person experiences fewer or less extreme symptoms than those seen in the active stage. Symptoms include having a depressed mood, lacking motivation, unreasonable thinking, lacking emotions, thinking that the world will betray them so they don’t trust or talk to anyone etc. Schizophrenia is currently present among 9.8% of the Indian population and 1.4% as a lifetime experience. Schizophrenia can’t be cured but therapy can improve the condition.
The Impact Of Covid On The Mental Health Of Adults
Covid had a huge impact on the mental health of adults as it gave rise to unemployment and radical lifestyle changes in some people. Due to the shift of most of the work to online mode, the stress increased among many employees. Further, as no one was able to meet their friends and families during to lockdown, many people felt isolated and loneliness increased.
In the US, 4 in every 10 adults were reported to be anxious; the consumption of alcohol and other substances increased by 12%; and sleeping issues increased by 32%. Also, women faced a higher rate of anxiety and depression as compared to men. Even the number of suicide cases increased.
The number of people suffering from anxiety between the age group 25-49 is 48.9%. It was reported that in India, 74% of people were suffering from stress and 84% from anxiety due to Covid. In India, 1 in every 10 adults has some mental disorder. In India, 10% of the population have common mental disorders and 1.9% have chronic mental disorders.
How India Reacts To Mental Health Issues
It has been observed that in India and many other countries, the issue of mental health is not treated properly and is often ignored. Even the person experiencing a mental health condition isn’t ready to accept it and just thinks that it is because of stress. Because of this, they do not even for any medication or therapy.
However, it is important to educate adults and even adolescents about mental health issues. Most parents ignore these conditions and when someone reaches an extreme stage is when parents consult an expert. It’s also often observed that people don’t feel free to discuss mental disorders and physical health is given more importance than mental health. It is important to establish good mental hospitals to be able to spread awareness about mental health.
Even in schools and colleges, various awareness sessions should be conducted regarding mental health and counselling must be practised. Often, due to mental disorders or any sort of stress, many people develop a smoking habit. Those with depression have lower levels of dopamine, a chemical in our body that triggers positive feelings in our brain. The nicotine in cigarettes activates the production of dopamine and so, smoking may be used as a way to relieve symptoms of depression.
But since nicotine only offers temporary relief, it may lead to possible addiction. Many develop a habit of alcohol and drugs as it provides temporary relief and relaxes their mind. Because of this, people might get addicted to a substance and then suffer from substance-use disorder.
It has been reported that around 50% of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance misuse. Also, 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug misusers also have at least one serious mental illness. Out of people who were diagnosed with a mental health condition, 29% misuse alcohol or drugs.
Why More Women Than Men Suffer From Mental Health Conditions
It is seen that many cases of depression, anxiety and some other disorders occur among people due to negative experiences, gender-based behaviour etc. Due to a higher exposure or probability of sexual assault or violence on women, they are more likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following such an incident, making women the largest group of people to go through PTSD.
Most women and men experience emotional distress or mental disorders that are neither identified nor treated by their doctors. It is estimated that at least one in five women have been raped in their lifetime. The rate of violence against women has increased from 16% to 50%. These events affect the mental health of women and also becomes a reason for a higher chance of depression among women than men.
Another reason is that women mostly take on a lot of stress. Even regarding any assault, they feel ashamed to even share their experience with others and overthink it, eventually making their mental condition worse. An evaluation of severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which affect less than 2% of the population, shows that social factors in India such as child marriage or forced marriage of women are a big reason for their poor mental health. This also creates a lot of pressure on women and often leads to suicide.
Also, around two-thirds of married women in India are survivors of domestic violence. In an Indian study, sexual harassment was reported by 30% of the 146 women surveyed. In India, depression occurs as frequently during late pregnancy and after delivery as in developed countries.
In a study in rural Tamil Nadu, the prevalence of postpartum depression was 11%. In China, it has led to the highest number of female suicide rates. Menopause is accompanied by depression and other mental disturbances. More major depression and anxiety disorders are found in females with alcoholism.
Steps To Improve Mental Health Among Adults
- Take proper sleep and avoid exposure to the screen and mobile before bedtime as they can affect your sleep.
- Take nutritious food and drink adequate water, especially for menstruators during their menstrual cycle.
- Be connected with your friends and family as they are the main source of one’s emotional support.
- Avoid the use of alcohol and drugs as they can exasperate your mental health problems.
- Practise regular exercise.
- It’s important to learn a few ways to manage stress. Otherwise, it can affect one’s health.
- Pay attention to your feelings, moods and loneliness level. Give yourself time, don’t overthink and try to relax your mind.
- Don’t stress over small things.
Symptoms You Should Not Ignore
If you’re experiencing a lack of sleep, lack of concentration, loss of interest in the regular routine that one enjoys, mood swings, not liking talking to friends, not socialising or weight changes because of stress or appetite, make sure you consult an expert.