How to change this as a society Change can be a slow process but is essential for forward growth as a society. Powerful movements have been developed from people collectively working together for positive change. Thousands of people are taking control of their lives and confronting the public stigmas of mental health by leading groups in their areas, both in the physical world and in the online community. Tackling stigmas must be done on a multitude of fronts to succeed. Judgment comes from a lack of understanding rather than facts and education. Many schools, workplaces, and organizations are providing training on reducing stigmas surrounding mental illness. This helps people who suffer from a mental illness feel safe in coming forward to receive the help they need.
Peer support is a wonderful way for people with mental illness to feel connected to the larger society, to reduce both self-stigmatizations, and to cope with public stigmas. Peer support includes help with coming out, social gatherings, and advocacy opportunities. Here are several ways to reduce stigmas surrounding mental illness: ● Talking openly. ● Empowering rather than shaming. ● Being honest about treatment. ● Commenting on media proliferation of stigmatizations. ● Releasing self-stigmas. Substance abuse: Development and connection Each person faces a variety of conditions at any given time as they move through their life – those suffering from mental illness is no different. Substance abuse can be a co-occurring condition with mental illness because it is often used as a coping strategy. A person does not need a formal diagnosis of substance abuse, but it does play a significant role in mental illnesses and can often exacerbate the symptoms rather than reduce them. Mental health conditions are complicated and difficult to navigate during a crisis, so it is important to know if someone is using drugs or alcohol to cope because they can interact with many medications. ● Educating oneself and others. ● Being conscious of language. ● Encouraging equality. ● Showing compassion. The connection between mental illness and substance abuse comes with its own set of unique symptoms, as each person has their own unique set of causes. The appropriate intervention is different for each person. It is hard to know if mental illness causes substance abuse or if substance abuse leads to mental illness. Researchers hotly debate this topic; to date, there is no evidence to support only one side of the debate. There are many connections between mental illness and substance abuse such as the fact that those with mental illnesses often self-medicate with substances. Substances are used to ease the symptoms of undiagnosed mental illness, deal with difficult emotions, and alter moods. Co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse is most often seen with the following: ● Depression. ● Anxiety disorders. ● Panic disorder. ● Bipolar disorder. ● PTSD. ● Attention hyperactivity disorder (ADD). ● Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ● Eating disorders. Crisis management Mental illness crisis episodes can feel overwhelming for both the individual sufferer and for the people around them. It can be very difficult for a person in the midst of a crisis to articulate their thoughts, feelings, needs, or emotions. This can also translate to the inability to understand exactly what other people are saying or the logic they are trying to use. Just like other health crises, it is imperative to address a mental health emergency quickly and effectively. During
● Psychotic illness. ● Borderline personality disorder. ● Antisocial personality disorder. ● Schizophrenia.
Substance use and abuse is especially pronounced with serious mental illness but can occur in combination with any mental illness. People are especially vulnerable to substance abuse problems when they are younger. Most often drug use and addiction start in adolescence. This is because adolescence is the period when signs of mental illness commonly first appear. The brain develops through adolescence and the circuits that control executive functions (decision making and impulse control) are one of the last to mature. Because they mature later, it increases the vulnerability to drug use and the eventual development of a substance abuse problem. Using drugs at an early age has been correlated with developing a substance abuse problem later in life. However, this is not the only determining factor for substance abuse. Other factors are also involved such as genetics, psychosocial experiences, and environmental influences. Self-medication with drugs and alcohol can cause various side effects, and in the long run, the substance use may cause more harm than good. Initially used to relieve the symptoms of the mental illness, drug and alcohol use present their own set of symptoms that can often worsen those associated with the mental illness. Or it can even trigger new symptoms or interact with certain medications (antidepressants, antianxiety pills, mood stabilizers) in a detrimental way. A major problem is drug and alcohol use can create mental health symptoms like paranoia, delusions, or depression. It is difficult to know which issues cause the symptoms to present themselves. the crisis, it is essential to empathize and connect with the person's feelings while staying calm. This will help to de- escalate the current crisis. Oftentimes people are unprepared for a mental health crisis and not sure what to do to help in the situation. In a mental health crisis, the individual undergoing the crisis can show erratic behavior that shifts quickly from one state to another.
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Book Code: ENC0825
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