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The Epidemic of Mental Health

In conservative communities, showing any sign of what is perceived as weakness is looked down upon. Being open about your bad situation is sometimes considered a sign of entitlement and attention-seeking. Mental health is one of the ailments many suffer in silence and don't get help for. It has reached an alarming rate among young adults. Science presents many reasons as the causative factors:
1. Change in socio-cultural behavior instigated by many things
2. Change in lifestyle of caregivers - parents. It is commonplace now that both parents are professionals and are often not available enough to supervise the upbringing and meet the emerging needs of their wards.
3. Technology - the internet, smartphone, tablet, laptops, Nintendo, X-box, etc are drawing time away from young adults (even adults). The time they should spend socializing by playing with their siblings, friends, and parents is spent playing games and surfing the web looking for what is not lost.
4. Peer pressure from school and social media. The negative influence of social media on adolescent mental health in America was recently highlighted by US Surgeon General.
5. Negative influence of celebrities who portray unrealistic personas is taking its toll on those who follow them, creating enormous pressure to conform. And when people fail, it creates untold mental stress.
6. Severe economic situation across the middle and lower class is creating enormous pressure that makes people not want to leave their bed, let alone leave their house.
7. Culture-clash. Many conservative cultures are being challenged by a more enlightened generation. A culture that silences the voice of the young in the name of respect for elders, one that takes away the property of a widow - that makes them drink crazy stuff in the name of family traditions, a culture that permits abuse in marital relationships, etc. There are many more.....

Untreated mental health could have many devastating effects on the quality of life of an individual, and sometimes it leads to suicide. The suicide rate in many developing countries is on the rise, and many are wondering why. It continues to get worse in the West. I am not a professional to tell you what symptoms to look out for. However, common symptoms include Apathy - lack of interest in anything, not wanting to stand up from your bed even after sleeping for a long time, being unusually dirty - not wanting to take care of yourself or people under your care, a feeling of hopelessness, the constant thought of death or killing yourself, among others.

Seek medical help if you think you are depressed and experiencing mental health. If prescribed, medication (medicine) is ok to get you to where you can stand on your own. There is no harm in therapy if you can afford it. A dear friend (Dr. Sosunmolu Soyinka, the Chief Medical Officer for the city of Philadelphia's public mental health system) wrote a book that can help some. Please, avail yourself of it.

 Understanding Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Communities


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