Mental Health

• A person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all referred to as mental health
• Bible. The earliest recorded examples of mental illness can be found in ancient religious texts, such as the Bible, which describe symptoms of mental illness and exorcism as a means of treatment
• The Demoniac Boy. After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand (Mark 9:26,27)
• INCAS. Early medicine men, considering such individuals to be possessed by demons, introduced a technique called trephination. This procedure involved drilling a hole in the head of the individual to let evil spirits out of the body. Many other civilizations independently developed such a procedure.
• Greece. Hippocrates, believed that mental illness was caused by a disturbance in the balance of the four senses of humor - blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile - that were thought to make up the human body.
• Hippocrates proposed that an excess or deficiency of one or more of these humors could lead to various physical and mental health problems, including mental illness. For example, he believed that an excess of black bile, which was associated with melancholy, could cause depression and other mental health disorders
• Exorcism. In the process of an exorcism the person possessed may be restrained so that they do not harm themselves or any person present. The exorcist then prays and commands for the demons to retreat. The Catholic Priest recites certain prayers
• MIDDLE AGES. London’s Bethlehem asylum, better known as Bedlam was founded in 1247, making it one of the oldest institutions of its kind. The term "bedlam" became associated with chaos, confusion, and poor treatment, which reflected the general attitude toward mental illness at the time.
• Bedlam Asylum. “One can hardly imagine a human being in a more degraded and brutalized condition than that in which I found this female.” The woman, Anna Stone, had been found naked, filthy and chained with several others against the wall of a damp, dark stone cell
• MENTAL HYGIENE MOVEMENT. Formed in the United States in 1908. Its goal was to advocate for people who were "mentally sick," or people who had psychiatric conditions, in a more humane way as historically, people with mental illnesses were abused, neglected, and lacked adequate care
• Mental Health. It was during this conference that the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded. The WHO Constitutions stated that mental "well-being" is an integral part of overall health, even in the absence of psychiatric illness.
• Four Ds defining Psychological Abnormality are Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Danger
• Deviance. Any deviation from accepted norms in a society (or a culture) is considered abnormal. In psychological term, interestingly, the person is experiencing dissociative personality disorder.
• Distress. Acting unusually doesnt automatically make one abnormal. For instance, a solo world traveler rides his bike to 100 countries worldwide. We may think its abnormal but as long as it doesnt give distress to the individual and others around him, it is simply eccentric instead of abnormal.
• Dysfunction. Another test of abnormality is whether a behavior causes a dysfunction in everyday activities. Grieving may take a while to pass, but a clinical depression doesnt seem to pass and the person is likely to withdraw from everyday activities and to stop communication with family members and friends at some point.
• Danger. Whenever an individual poses a risk of danger to herself or others, then its most likely that she is abnormal.
• Emotional Resilience The ability to adapt and cope with life's challenges, bounce back from adversity, and maintain a positive outlook.
• Positive Self-Esteem A sense of confidence and self-worth, based on an accurate and realistic appraisal of one's strengths and weaknesses.
• Good Relationships Strong and supportive relationships with family, friends, and community members that provide a sense of belonging and support.
• Self-Awareness. The ability to recognize and understand one's own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to use this knowledge to make positive changes.
• Purpose and Meaning. Sense of direction and purpose in life, and a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment from one's activities and achievements.
• Flexibility and Adaptability. The ability to adjust to new situations and challenges, and to approach problems with a positive and open-minded attitude.
• Realistic Thinking. The ability to think critically and objectively, and to avoid negative or distorted thought patterns that can contribute to anxiety and depression. (
• Coping Skills. The ability to manage stress and cope with adversity and to develop effective coping strategies to promote mental health and well-being
• Challenges to Mental Health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that an estimated one in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health problem each year. There are a number of risk factors that can increase the likelihood that a person may experience poor mental health.
• Discrimination. Being treated unfairly due to personal characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity is linked with increased anxiety and depression
• Exposure to Trauma. Trauma is linked with anxiety, depression, changes in mood (increased anger and irritability), feelings of hopelessness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Family History of Mental Illness Research suggests that a variety of mental illnesses run in families such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia.
• Low Income Low income is linked with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Low income may also prevent someone from accessing necessary mental health services.
• Medical Illness. Illnesses, particularly those that are chronic and force a person to adjust their lifestyle, can create psychological distress (especially depression)
• Poor Access to Health Services. Access to health services is linked to positive long-term health outcomes. However, when people can't get access to the health care they need, their physical and mental health may suffer as a result.
• Poor Self-esteem. Having low self-esteem often means you don't believe you're worthy of being happy or having positive relationships. People with low self-esteem are at higher risk of developing substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression
• Poor Social Skills. Having poor social skills is linked with loneliness and increased stress levels, as well as worsened physical health
• Social Inequalities. Lacking access to goods and services in society based on personal characteristics like your age, gender, religion, race, disability, or another social category can increase the risk of depression
• Physical exercise can reduce stress and even improve the symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression.
• adhering to a consistent sleep schedule (going to bed and waking up at the same times each night), limiting distractions like using your phone before bed, and making sure you get some exercise during the day.
• Learning healthy coping mechanisms for managing stress can go a long way in improving mental health
• Having social interactions in a setting such as a group therapy, for instance, might be especially helpful if you are coping with a specific mental health condition like post-traumatic stress disorder or an eating disorder
• One study found that participants with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who practiced replacing thoughts of negative outcomes with thoughts of positive ones experienced less worry over time than participants who didn't imagine positive outcomes
• MIDDLE AGES. mental illness was often viewed as a form of possession or demonic influence, and treatment often involved harsh measures such as torture and confinement.