When we are in school, we are often taught how to maintain our physical health. Teachers educate us on eating healthy, exercising regularly, and even improving some first aid skills. Yet, mental health always seems to fall by the wayside. However, it is essential to always remember that mental health is just as important to our overall health and wellness, as physical health.
In fact, nearly 400 million people around the world suffer from depression. With depression and mental health disorders, life can be extremely difficult. And many people are completely unaware that they may even have such symptoms. The signs of depression are not well known, and we should be educating our children on such mental health issues. This is especially crucial, because depression can start at a very young age. About one in ten young people will experience depression by the time they turn 18 years old. Yet, they may be completely unaware.
And these mental health disorders affect society as a whole, too. Depression, anxiety, and other disorders can cause a loss of productivity to businesses, as well as high healthcare costs. As a result, the annual cost of depression to the United States is estimated at roughly $80 billion. Thus, it benefits not just the individuals suffering from mental health conditions, but all of society, to make sure that we are properly educated on this topic.
With appropriate psychological and psychiatric care, individuals with mental health conditions can improve it. Think of it like exercising and diet to improve your physical health. It may not be easy, but it is possible. For example, mental health problems can put a huge strain on families. However, family and group therapy, as well as individual counseling, can help the suffering individuals to make great strides in improving their mental health. With some hard work, they can be well on their way to improved mental health.
It would be impossible to know all of these important facts regarding mental health, without access to information and education. In order to understand when and how to achieve appropriate therapy services or counseling, we need to be educated. Therefore, while we all know the main standards of physical health, we should also be educating each other about mental health. Such mental disorders should not go unnoticed and, by knowing how to recognize the signs and symptoms, we can help each other to keep our loved ones healthy.