Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking, or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.
It is important to note that frank conversations about mental illness should and must take place both in public and private. A stigma has been created over generations that have made such discussions taboo. Such issues which remain in the dark must have a bright light shone upon them to reverse irrational stereotypes and prayerfully lead to collective healing.
Mental illness is on the same page as physical illness. We understandably rush to manage or even cure afflictions such as a cold or the flu. Even more attention to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and more without hesitation. We’ll share these ailments freely with others, wear shirts proclaiming the need for a cure and attend fundraisers or even volunteer at very public events.
And deservedly so.
But mental illness is relegated to the back of the bus. A majority do not want to share with others their mental afflictions, there is nary a T-shirt calling attention to mental issues and the outward call for participation in public events is muted by a lack of the comparative number of events in relation to other afflictions.
Contributory to the perceptions of mental illness and therefore the mentally ill is, of course, media and entertainment. The portrayal of mental illness runs the gamut which can lead to a subjective, albeit clinically inaccurate presentation. This condition is exacerbated when the words that are spoken, and the actions taken are by idol-like movie stars, endearing celebrities and, yes, social media influencers who exert irrational levels of yes, influence.
Like depictions of mental illness in entertainment, news programs and publications tend to misrepresent the causes, symptoms, and treatments of mental illnesses. Often, the central message conveyed is that people with mental illnesses are violent, criminal, dangerous, and should be avoided. Furthermore, when it comes to news media, only the most exciting and over sensationalized stories tend to make headlines. This influx of violent stories involving mentally ill people makes these cases seem more common.
There are claims that social media plays such a role regarding mental health that legislation has been proposed and passed around the world. Now nations such as China, North Korea, Iran, and others may have ulterior motives in controlling access to social media. However, Australia has upped its game by imposing age verification requirements to access YouTube and more. Even the United States via state and federal initiatives is enacting age verification laws, parental consent, and default privacy settings.
Although the influences on the perception, therefore the reality of mental illness, may reside on the outside it is irrefutable the most important aspect is the individual. The determination of potential mental illness begins with you and an honest self-evaluation of your life. Pre-cursors may include conditions including but not limited to:
- Significant changes in thinking, emotion, and/or behavior.
- Distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.
- The inability to return to “normalcy” after a life impacting event such as the death of a loved one, job loss, separation, or divorce, etc...
It is important to reiterate: There is no shame at all in recognizing and accepting mental health challenges. When you’re not feeling well, you go to see your doctor or you may go to urgent care or even the emergency room. Please consider the same if you’re experiencing mental issues.
If you need help or guidance, call the three-digit number 9-8-8 for Hawai‘i CARES.
You are not alone.
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