Mental health issues is a topic relevant to all but accepted only by a few. Physical injuries, symptoms, and weaknesses are easily noticeable, so they can be quickly rushed to hospitals or be provided first-aid as soon as possible. On the other hand, mental setbacks are not visible to the naked eye.
Mental health was a highly ostracized and avoided topic for a long time. But recently, people have started opening up by speaking and sharing their experiences, opinions, and suggestions on mental health issues and red flags. Therapies have been normalized, and the judgmental point of view towards mental health issues has declined substantially.
Accepting the issue is the first step taken toward its correction. While the medical field has grown leaps and bounds with multiple innovations and inventions, growth in the mental health sector is far behind. There is much potential for innovations and developments in improving mental health issues. To prevent the patients from falling into a vicious spiral, we can provide them with adequate help and support.
Now, let us read about different scenarios regarding mental health status from the past, present, and expected standards for the future.
Mental health scenarios from the past, in the present, and expectations for the future
The Past
Mental health issues did not sprout recently or suddenly. There have been multiple cases of mental health issues in historic times. But at that time, those illnesses could not be explained and were often termed as demonic possessions, witchcraft, or due to the wrath of gods. Let us look at some ways of treatment of mental illnesses in the past.
- Trephination
In trephination, a small part of the skull was removed from the patient’s body using a drill, bore, or saw to relieve the patient from headaches, mental illnesses, and demonic possessions. These processes were primarily fatal.
- Bloodletting and Purging
Bleeding, purging, and vomiting was thought to help correct physical and mental imbalances. They believed that this would restore the balance of humor in the body.
- Isolation and Asylums
The asylums were not used to help the patient recover but to ostracize them from society. They were kept in inhuman conditions and were often tortured.
- Other barbaric treatments
Treatments like Insulin Coma Therapy and Metrazol Therapy could be fatal and hazardous to the patient’s health.
The Present
The recent pandemic and fast-paced lifestyle of today’s time have sprouted multiple mental health issues and spread awareness. People have started acknowledging these issues instead of brushing them off and are speaking about them. Let us look at some developments in mental health in today’s times.
- More forums for speaking about mental health issues
Various online platforms are available to discuss mental health issues and daily difficulties in coping and express all doubts and fears. These forums help people find other like-minded people who can relate and empathize with them if they cannot speak to the people around them.
- Taking a step towards normalizing therapy and mental health issues
Although complete normalization of these issues has not been achieved, people have progressed in the field. People have started talking about the requirements of taking professional help to overcome their mental health problems.
- Self-help websites and apps and helpline numbers to speak about issues
There are various self-help apps and websites that help you keep track of your mental health. Different helpline numbers are also available if you feel suicidal or have any negative thoughts due to any situation.
- Workshops and online information about various mental health problems
Knowledge is being spread to the masses about mental health issues, their symptoms, preventions, and treatment. This helps the patients recognize the red flags before the problems become worse. It also helps people help and empathize with others around them.
- Better professionals to help patients deal with their issues
Professional doctors and therapists can help you properly deal with your mental health issues and suggest medication if needed. These facilities fasten the patient’s road to recovery.
The Future
While we have normalized mental health issues to a certain level, much progress remains to be made. Here are some steps that we can expect in the future for better receptivity and handling of mental health problems:
- Integrating with government schemes
The government plays an essential role in determining the level of advertisements and priorities of issues in a country. Integrating mental health issues in government schemes will put them in the public eye and motivate them to talk about it. The government schemes will make the information and facilities available in remote places all over the country.
- Integrating awareness about mental health in educational settings
The future of a country depends on the education, upbringing, and opinions of its children. To educate the future about mental health, it is imperative to get the children educated about it. This can be done by including these topics in the educational system and making them a part of the curriculum. In the future, this can help spread awareness and acceptance of mental health issues.
- Innovations for well-developed, adequately informative, and data-backed psychometrics in measurement
Most tests about diagnosis are based on the patient’s answers, verbal responses, and body language. These factors are not always enough or accurate for diagnosing the ailment. In the future, we can expect well-developed, adequately informative, and data-backed psychometrics to measure mental health standards.
- New research for interlinking between mental health and other medical departments
There are many undiscovered aspects of mental health. While we know the basics, there is scope for more research in finding links between different medical departments and their impact on a patient’s mental health. In the future, we can expect more detailed knowledge about these aspects to help safeguard and quick recovery from mental health issues.
- A ray of light for permanent cures of mental disorders
Doctors and experts cannot eliminate multiple disorders, even after intense treatments and medications. These include numerous mental health disorders as well. In the future, we can expect discoveries and innovations that can permanently solve these issues.
Conclusion
From this article, we can conclude that the journey of social acceptance and treatments for mental health has had a roller coaster ride. From myths and secluded, terrorizing asylums, we have come a long way to discussing them in open forums and normalizing therapies. But many miles still need to be covered before reaching the goal.
Mental health is crucial in maintaining a healthy, happy, and well-balanced life. The dark phase is when the walls of your soul start to suffocate you, when your mind and heart seem trapped, and you feel too exhausted to face the world, a hand to help, to support, and to guide what is needed. Supporting each other when they fall weak is all humanity is about. Every change requires a little push from everybody, even you!
Mental health issues are not an entity to be ridiculed or brushed off. They must be considered seriously and should be approached in an empathetic manner. While there is a lot of scope for new inventions and types of machinery in the mental health sector, it is mutual kindness and empathy that would seal the deal.
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