Mental health still has a stigma attached to it and continues to be overlooked. It is still a taboo topic in most countries, is undeserved and part of the international aid scenario. For anyone who struggles with mental illness, often the common perception is that there is something wrong with you.

Society and its needs

Fundamental needs for a healthy society need to include food, water sanitation systems, vaccines, and good mental health. Instead, it is under-used, under-rated and undermined and is mostly ignored in many parts of society, the world.

Physical Disease

When it comes to physical diseases, we tend to separate the illness from the person, but when it comes to mental illness, we associate mental illness with the person, that they have a screw lose. It's wrong.

Good Mental Health is perceived as a luxury

Good mental health is perceived as a luxury and it’s worryingly common. Research shows that we’re more likely to donate twice as much to mental health charities if we emphasise with a photo, rather than be presented with stats. It’s easier to see a physical disease, rather than a mental disease, unless you understand and know the signs.

Mental Health and the Developing World

In the developing world, mental health is an increasingly common issue. Mental health has tangible consequences. When anyone deals with mental issues, the positive impact of trying to live your life is curbed.

While this issue is invisible it has very real consequences. It doesn’t matter if you could learn a new skill thanks to an NGO project or any other programme; if you suffer from a mental illness, the positive impact of these programmes is significantly reduced.

StrongMinds Charity

The socio-economic consequences of untreated mental illnesses are overwhelming. A charitable organisation called Strongminds was founded in early 2013 by Sean Mayberry, a former diplomat and social marketer and was brought in to reverse this.

HIV/AIDS

After spending a decade implementing HIV/AIDS and malaria programmes, Mayberry realized the devastating impact of mental illness in Africa and set out to address the problem with an evidence-based approach.

Mental Illness includes Depression

If mental health is the most neglected health problem in the developing world, depression is the single most common mental illness. And depression affects women at twice the rate of men. In Africa, depression affects 1 in 4 women and of these women, the overwhelming majority, 8 in 10, have no access to treatment.

Conclusion

Having and continuing to deal with mental health issues myself, good mental health is vital to physical wellness and mental health shouldn't be seen as a luxury. It also shouldn't been seen as someone else's issue. It is a necessity, because without mental health or good mental health there is no physical wellness.

The CP Diary is a mental health and lifestyle blog and it's a good place for you to start addressing your mental health. It is important all aspects of mental health are included, such as your experiences, past and present. Without dealing with those, you will struggle to function in your present and in the future. I have seen that happen and I can't stress that enough.

Source: Forbes.com