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Have you ever cried tears of penitence, feeling guilty for doing something wrong, even if it was over the minuscule of things? Experienced a sudden rush of anxiety taking over your entire body? Or ever felt stuck in a hamster wheel, constantly running but never really getting anywhere? Although it is completely normal to feel that way on several occasions in life, if such feelings start becoming habitual affecting your daily functioning, it might be a wake-up call for you to start prioritizing self-care; reach out to someone in the professional circle and seek their help!
We often talk about visible ailments, but today let’s break the stereotypes and talk about an ‘invisible illness’, that which is not always visible on the outside- Mental Illness. In the past decades, mental illness and its associated problems have escalated like a whirlwind, they have become serious topics to be dealt with. According to a study carried out by Kentucky mental health Care, 10-20% of children and adolescents suffer from mental disorders, and neuropsychiatric conditions are currently the primary cause of disability in young people in all WHO Regions. While it is equally important to understand the rising issues of mental illness, let’s first walk through what mental illness actually is.
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Mental illness, also referred to as Psychiatric Disorder is an umbrella term encompassing a broad range of medical conditions that influence an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It also accounts for their behavioral changes, mood swings, judgments and the way they react under situational circumstances. Now that we know what the term actually means, let's have a look at the factors leading to a sudden rise in mental health issues and dust off some decades-old myths surrounding mental illness.
1. One of the leading causes of why mental illnesses have skyrocketed in recent years is due to the fact that a vast proportion of our society has fallen victim to the generational long stigma that children and teens can’t have mental health issues. However, studies have shown that 50% of the major mental illnesses are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24. A common misconception nowadays is the belief that only the older population can be affected by mental health issues, however, what they fail to understand is that anybody can develop the illness regardless of their age or how fit they are. This lack of acceptance can worsen the situation even more and can trigger more issues associated with it.
2. While there’s no doubt that social networking platforms have indeed made the world a global village, you can’t possibly ignore the downsides of social media addiction. According to a survey by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, college-wide access to Facebook led to an increase in severe depression by 7% and anxiety disorder by 20%. Excessive social media usage has caused individuals to unreasonably compare their lifestyles with whom they see on screen leading them to develop FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Greatly influenced by what they see on screen, even though it might not be genuine, escalating risks of self-harm and even suicidal thoughts. Blue Whale Game can be considered a prime example of mental illnesses caused by extreme social media usage. A global online game blamed for numerous suicides targeted children who sought acceptance, acknowledgement and attention from peers as a result of growing up in an abusive environment or dysfunctional families. The game resulted in a severe rise in cases of anxiety and depression, and eventually caused multitudes of children to take their lives in the face of a deathful trap.
3. With that being said, a major cause of the rapid increase in mental illness also stems from affectees of financial and emotional hardships. Being unable to meet financial ends at home, excessive workload, and even unemployment or demotion due to office politics can lead people to undergo severe stress issues that when coupled up results in sleep disorders, substance abuse and even chronic disorders like schizophrenia. All are classified as part of mental illnesses. Family conflicts, relationship difficulties and social isolation can also lead to one being emotionally distressed, further accelerating mental illnesses. COVID-19 which struck the entire human race in 2019, is known to have amplified more serious mental health problems as a result of large-scale unemployment, social isolation and a rising death toll!
4. Traces of Childhood traumas regarding incidents of both Sexual or Domestic Abuse have also played a major role in the rapid rise of mental illness, for both males and females. A study, published in Psychological Medicine, found that 40% of women surveyed with severe mental illness had suffered rape or attempted rape in adulthood, of whom 53% had attempted suicide as a result. While 12% of men with severe mental illness had been seriously sexually assaulted, compared with 0.5% of the general population. The immediate emotional effects of abuse and ultimately lack of support by family can translate into lifelong consequences, such as illicit drug use, nonfatal suicidal behaviour, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and antisocial and borderline personality disorders.
5. While the list of rising problems associated with mental illness continues, multifactorial inheritance can be considered as another of its root causes. As part of the human genetics chain, we inherit genes from our ancestral roots, which often leads to health issues passed on from generation to generation. Firstly, complete denial of having any kind of mental illness because of the age long myth and perception of “mental illness aren’t real illnesses and can never affect me” and then lack of correct diagnosis at the correct time sparks the problem to much higher heights.
While mental illness remains to be widely stigmatized, it’s time to start the conversation about mental health and break down barriers that prevent people from seeking the help they need. It is time to break free from the hamster wheel and tap into our inner purpose, with the daily grind of work and responsibilities. I know it can be hard but it's the need of the hour.
So, let your inner purpose take action, and become a voice against Mental Illness Stigma!
Kentucky Mental Health - Why is Mental Illness on a Rise?
https://kentuckymentalhealth.com/why-is-mental-illness-on-the-rise/
Mental Health Foundation- Children and Young People Statistics
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health
Massachusetts Institute of Technology- (Study: Social Media Use linked to decline in mental health)
https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/study-social-media-use-linked-to-decline-mental-health
University College London-
Five Leading Causes of Mental Health Issues-
https://mindowl.org/5-leading-causes-of-mental-health-issues/
