Mental Illness Awareness Month
Mental illness is not a rare condition and many people are misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed.
July is marked Mental Illness Awareness Month to enlighten society because there are many people living with mental illness conditions unknowingly.
According to the Gauteng Central Mental Health Society, there is no one way to define mental illness, but it is generally instability in the brain that causes changes in human behaviour which then affects the person’s optimal function.
Mental illness may be caused by either inheritance, imbalance in the brain or psychological stress.
The signs and symptoms of mental illness vary from one person to another depending on the cause of the illness.
The symptoms include but are not limited to:
· Easily irritable
· Mood swings
· Poor frustration toleration
· Poor sleeping patterns
· Isolation
· Hostile
· Functional ability deteriorates
· Poor self-care
· Hallucinations
· Delusions
It is important to note that there may be other irrelevant symptoms.
If these symptoms persist for long periods of time the ill person needs to be given immediate attention.
The first step to helping a suspected ill person is referring them to a professional which will then take them to a social worker for assessment.
If the assessment proves the suspicion correct, the ill person will then be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist for further diagnosis and treatment.
“If someone is suspected to have mental illness it is not advised to lock them up as a way of protecting them. The family needs to bring the person forward for assistance,” said Tshepo Monyetshwale, social worker at the Gauteng Central Mental Health Society.
Social Auxiliary Worker, Mmiga Mothupi said that society has created false ideas and beliefs about mental illness.
He said it is important to know and understand that mental illness is not a rare condition and many people are misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed.
Mentally ill people are not dangerous as this is the case only when they are not taking the prescribed medication.
People with mental illness can be helped but only if they are referred, treated and supported.
“There’s a growing relationship between mental illness and substance abuse. When taking medication, alcohol and drugs kill the brain even more, heightening the condition of the person. For this reason we don’t advise people on medication to take substances or alcohol,” Monyetshwale said.
