Mental health: Is it receiving the necessary attention?

“What mental health needs is more sunlight,more candor and more unashamed conversation”. ~Glenn Close

Mental health and its associated issues over the past years is beginning to receive some level of attention in Ghana. However, is it enough?It is usual and quite understanding that one will invest a lot into their physical health. After all we all want to live a long and productive life. It is however important that we pay close attention to our mental health as well, as there is no health without mental health.

Mental health is an important component of health. The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

“Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities ,can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” as defined by the WHO. This goes beyond just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.

• Every year almost 800,000 people die by suicide.
• A person dies from suicide every 40 seconds.
• One in four persons will be affected by mental illness during the course of their lifetime.
• Half of all lifetime of mental illness has been recognised to begin by age 14.

Poor mental health consequently affects the physical health and can disrupt the quality of life of the individual.It is therefore, necessary to pay some attention to our mental health.

My subsequent articles will shed more light on aetiology of poor mental health, certain common mental health disorders and myths associated with mental health illness.

*Abbreviation

WHO -World Health Organization