Mental Health Stigma

Leave a comment July 26, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Social and cultural constructions inform people’s perceptions, attitudes, and viewpoints about mental health. Such perceptions gain expression in social norms and can escalate and spiral into beliefs, which societies relay through myths and labels. Over time, these negative and incorrect beliefs about psychopathology attain widespread acceptance as the truth and engender stigma against mentally ill patients. Wogen & Restrepo (2020) assert that many societies have entrenched biases and stereotypes concerning mental health because of ignorance and the dearth of professional knowledge. They have created erroneous labels and viewpoints, which act as barriers to mental health treatment and hinder mentally ill patients from attaining their full potential. These beliefs also instigate bigoted or negative attitudes towards mentally ill patients, spawn negative prejudices, and weaken familial, social, and institutional responses to mental health issues. For example, people ascribe negative tags towards mentally healthy patients, such as violent, irrational, burdensome, and inadequate.

They tend to avoid, isolate, and segregate them based on these rigid and unfounded fears and perceptions (Pescosolido et al., 2019). This perpetuates inequality and maltreatment of patients who also have to contend with the challenges of their mental health problems at the institutional level. According to Sickel et al. (2019), stigmatizing people with mental health promotes self-doubt and hinders them from seeking treatment and striving to attain their full potential. They conceal their symptoms, adopt antisocial tendencies, and ultimately seek solace in narcotic drugs and substances, among other maladaptive behaviors. Thornicroft et al. (2019) suggest strategies through which societies can counter and overturn these negative beliefs and perspectives while concurrently preventing inculcation and installation of new ones. For example, social workers can rehabilitate and avert the internalization of self-doubt among mental health patients and encourage them to seek therapy.

They can also conduct public awareness and education campaigns to counter false beliefs concerning mental health at the societal level. In addition, they can employ advocacy and lobby for implementing policies that protect and advance the welfare of mental health patients. In summary, many societies stigmatize mental health patients based on false assumptions and perceptions. This results in social stigma, discrimination, deprivation, and maltreatment. Social workers can employ diverse personal, societal, and institutional strategies to correct this situation. These countermeasures include rehabilitation and eliminating obstacles to treatment, among other efforts to help them lead fulfilling and productive lives.

References

Clay, J., Eaton, J., Gronholm, P. C., Semrau, M., & Votruba, N. (2020). A systematic review of core components of mental health stigma reduction interventions in low-and middle-income countries. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29, e164-e170.

Pescosolido, B. A., Manago, B., & Monahan, J. (2019). Evolving public views on the likelihood of violence from people with mental illness: Stigma and its consequences. Health Affairs, 38(10), 1735-1743.

Sickel, A. E., Seacat, J. D., & Nabors, N. A. (2019). Mental health stigma: Impact on mental health treatment attitudes and physical health. Journal of Health Psychology, 24(5), 586- 599.

Thornicroft, G., Bakolis, I., Evans‐Lacko, S., Gronholm, P. C., Henderson, C., Kohrt, B. A., & Sartorius, N. (2019). Key lessons learned from the INDIGO global network on mental health-related stigma and discrimination. World Psychiatry, 18(2), 229-230.

Wogen, J., & Restrepo, M. T. (2020). Human rights, stigma, and substance use. Health and Human Rights, 22(1), 51-60.

Sadness Can Turn into Depression

Leave a comment July 25, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Sadness is an emotion that manifests through sorrow or unhappiness. It can be mild or severe, depending on the cause. Typically, the loss of something considered important triggers sadness. For instance, the death of a loved one may result in sorrow. While it is normal to experience unhappiness sometimes, it may become excessive and adversely affect daily living. Overthinking, inactivity, and self-criticism due to sadness can morph into depression, and individuals must adopt interventions to salvage the situation.

There are various ways in which sadness can turn into depression. Individuals repeatedly think about bad things when having low moods. This act is due to the desire to understand the reasons behind the happenings and the intention to counter the negative feelings. Unfortunately, overthinking magnifies depressed moods (Kecmanovic, 2020). Hence, instead of dwelling on things that increase sadness, individuals should focus on what can be done about depressing events.

Often, sadness makes people inactive. For instance, some individuals neglect their activities of daily living and opt to stay in bed. While this act is meant to help one escape their negative emotions, it may spur severe depression (Kecmanovic, 2020). In essence, restricting movement and avoiding social interactions leads to loneliness, which makes one prone to this mental disorder. Thus, individuals dealing with sadness should strive to remain active.

The current state of a person may trigger feelings of sadness. Failure to salvage the situation turns this emotion into depression. For instance, one may blame themselves for missing a dream job and experiencing unhappiness. When self-criticism and perfectionism escalate, one becomes depressed (Kecmanovic, 2020). Thus, it is critical to embrace self-compassion regardless of one’s situation. Individuals can achieve this stance by acknowledging their emotions, then directing care and understanding to themselves. By extending compassion, kindness, support, and warmth to oneself, a person evades depression.

Reference

Kecmanovic, J. (2020, December 1). Perspective | how to keep your sadness from turning into depression. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/sadness-depression-stopping-getting-worse/2020/11/27/b5fa88c8-0e3f-11eb-8074-0e943a91bf08_story.html

Can Depression Affect Your Work Performance?

Leave a comment July 25, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Many people are dealing with mental health issues in the contemporary world. Depression is one of the most common disorders and presents as a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Thus, it interferes with the performance of daily activities. The risk factors include genetic predisposition, alcohol and substance abuse, dysfunctional families, and stressful life events. Clinical interventions are required to diagnose and treat this disorder since it does not resolve after some time. Depression can affect an individual’s work performance by leading to absenteeism or presenteeism, but people can alleviate these effects by seeking medical help.

Productivity at work is critical because it determines if a person gets promotions, pay increases, and other benefits. However, it can be affected by mental health issues such as depression. This mood disorder hinders an individual from attempting or completing tasks appropriately (Johnston et al., 2019). Thus, a patient may miss work deliberately or avoid taking up responsibilities. Eventually, absenteeism may lead to the loss of jobs if targets remain unmet. Depression also results in presenteeism, whereby a person goes to work but is distracted. Lack of concentration hinders assignment completion, which indicates poor performance (Johnston et al., 2019). Hence, persons with symptoms of depression should seek professional help.

There are various interventions that people who feel depressed can seek to alleviate the situation. First, one can consult a physician to get a proper diagnosis. By doing so, they understand their current behavior and take prescribed medication. For instance, if one does not want to go to work, they can attribute the feeling to the disorder. Taking prescribed drugs or attending counseling sessions can also enable an individual to perform tasks appropriately. Lastly, understanding that depression is treatable allows one to affirm themselves and remain encouraged. Hence, taking a day at a time would help a patient to navigate and triumph over this mental health issue while retaining productivity. Depression can affect your work performance. Knowing how depression affects work will help you identify the signs and hopefully prompt you to seek treatment from a medical professional.

Reference

Johnston, D. A., Harvey, S. B., Glozier, N., Calvo, R. A., Christensen, H., & Deady, M. (2019). The relationship between depression symptoms, absenteeism and presenteeism. Journal of Affective Disorders, 256, 536–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.041

Why Is It Hard to Focus When You Are Depressed?

Leave a comment July 21, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Student

For an individual to remain focused, they must be in an enabling mental space. Individuals who suffer from depression struggle to concentrate on critical matters due to several factors. According to Villalobos et al. (2021), mood disorders interfere with normal functioning. As such, individuals feel demotivated and do not attempt to complete daily tasks. Depression makes people unwilling to engage in any activity. For instance, a person may find it hard to clean their space or take a shower. Also, it impairs mental processing speed, thus minimizing the ability to absorb information. Subsequently, one forgets important details and appears less concerned. While this could be alarming to some people, others do not understand that one requires medical attention and remain aloof.

Depression is one of the issues that affect performance in school and workplaces. Individuals cannot focus because of mood instabilities (Villalobos et al., 2021). For instance, an individual could be in class but fails to concentrate. This aspect is known as presenteeism and presents through loss of productivity despite being physically available. In the long run, it results in stress and burnout, which worsen depression. Also, people may fail to focus due to overthinking. Depressed patients tend to focus on the underlying issue, which takes away from present happenings. Anxiety resulting from depression makes one uncertain about the future. Consequently, this affects an individual’s thoughts and leads to a loss of concentration regarding current events. While one may ignore the issues as an escape, it does not offer a lasting solution.

A patient-centered approach is critical in treating depression. As healthcare professionals work to restore an individual’s well-being, the latter should participate in several ways. For instance, one can attend therapy sessions where a mental health practitioner helps them to deal with underlying issues that lead to depression. Also, a patient can choose to live a day at a time. This move allows one to forget their problems and concentrate on critical matters. Nevertheless, patients must seek long-term solutions to heal fully and remain focused.

References

Villalobos, D., Pacios, J., & Vázquez, C. (2021). Cognitive control, cognitive biases and emotion regulation in depression: A new proposal for an integrative Interplay Model. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.628416

Let’s Beat Depression by Eating Healthy

Leave a comment July 21, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Student

Photo by Darina Belonogova on Pexels.com

There is a connection between depression and diet. Overindulging in processed and fast foods may result in this mental health issue. Aubrey and Chatterjee (2019) opine that it is critical to embrace healthy eating habits to improve outcomes. Also, individuals who mask their feelings through overeating should seek professional help and adhere to the doctor’s instructions. For example, attending therapy sessions can ascertain why a patient prefers fast foods to a healthy diet. After identifying the cause, a healthcare practitioner can advise the patient concerning the best intervention.

Overconsuming processed food increases the chance of contracting depression. An individual becomes susceptible to recurring mood swings and a heightened inability to focus (Aubrey & Chatterjee, 2019). Subsequently, these behaviors make them unable to concentrate on critical issues and affect their relationships. A person becomes withdrawn and shuns their loved ones, resulting in loneliness which could lead to depression. Thus, individuals should consume nutrient-rich foods that improve concentration and limit mood swings. Wholegrain, unprocessed meals allow one to balance vitamins, nutrients, fiber, minerals, and fatty acids. Thus, an individual stays healthy and feels good.

The type of food a person indulges in determines their general well-being. Mentally, overconsuming saturated and refined fats worsens the symptoms of depression and impairs brain function (Aubrey & Chatterjee, 2019). Therefore, one cannot make appropriate decisions and lacks concentration. An unhealthy diet also affects an individual physically. For instance, often consuming fast food leads to excessive weight gain. This aspect leads to a negative body image which affects one’s self-esteem. To alter the situation, a patient should embrace a healthy diet alongside seeking professional health.

We can beat depression by eating healthily. Ensuring that meals are balanced and eliminating overprocessed foods will enhance patient outcomes. Avoiding instances that lead to binge eating will shape our consumption habits and prevent us from contracting depression. Subsequently, healthy eating should be encouraged because it helps beat depression.

Reference

Aubrey, A., & Chatterjee, R. (2019, October 9). Changing your diet can help Tamp down depression, boost mood. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/09/768665411/changing-your-diet-can-help-tamp-down-depression-boost-mood

Did You Know That Depression Can Cause Your Body to Ache?

Leave a comment July 21, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Student

While depression is a mental health disorder, some physical symptoms exist in patients. Some signs are gastrointestinal issues, chronic pain, loss of appetite, irregular sleep patterns, and fatigue. Thus, healthcare practitioners may sometimes fail to diagnose this condition because most patients only report physical signs (Bruce, 2021). Also, individuals may not suspect experiencing this mental health issue and are surprised that chronic pain results from depression. For instance, one could attribute back pain to strenuous tasks. Hence, healthcare practitioners must conduct a series of tests to ascertain underlying issues linked to depression, including pain.

Chronic pain may lead to depression, and the reverse is true. Experts claim that continuous body aches make individuals develop low self-esteem. This aspect occurs if one cannot participate in social activities or fend for themselves. Ultimately, one becomes depressed, and prompt intervention is necessary. On the other hand, depression causes the body to ache, hence worsening a person’s mood. Bruce (2021) opines that depression magnifies pain, thus making everyday living more difficult. For instance, a patient who complains of migraines may report frequent and more painful episodes if they are depressed. Fortunately, some medications make chronic pain tolerable and relieve depression.

Besides the cause-and-effect explanation, depression and body aches share a deeper biological connection. In the human body, serotonin and norepinephrine regulate emotions and pain. Since depression is a mood disorder, if these neurotransmitters are dysregulated, a patient experiences this condition. Similarly, when norepinephrine and serotonin are interfered with, an individual feels pain. To ease aches during depression, healthcare practitioners administer antidepressants that prevent the reuptake of the neurotransmitters responsible for moods and pain (Bruce, 2021). These drugs work well and have fewer side effects. Further, they reduce the perception of pain.

Reference

Bruce, D. F. (2021, September 21). Depression and chronic pain. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-chronic-pain

What is PTSD?

The Benefits of Meditation to Improve Mental Health

2 Comments July 6, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Meditation is a relevant process that provides an opportunity for improving one’s mental health. Its criticality is centered on allowing an individual to gain perspective regarding situations. For example, engaging in meditation may instigate focused attention. As such, it becomes possible for a person to cross-examine the existing issues and develop viable solutions that limit the cause of stress. Meditation advances one’s ability to develop new skills. It also sets precedence for acquiring capabilities in relaxing the body (Mayo Clinic, 2022). The above competencies allow a person to create an environment that advances mental health. Involving oneself in meditation is tied to developing self-awareness. This trajectory in self-care advances the opportunity to choose elements that improve cognitive well-being. Acquiring self-awareness also means the ability to make decisions that impact mental growth. Meditation also increases patience, which limits stress in situations that involve delays. Therefore, involving oneself in such a practice cements positive cognitive well-being.

Meditation is also vital in fostering mental paradigms that allow an individual to focus on the present. The benefits tied to this trajectory involve the avoidance of worrying about past or future events. Thus, an individual limits the possibility of experiencing stressful situations. Meditation also provides a chance to practice open attitudes. In other words, the practice facilitates the reduction of negative emotions. As such, one can demonstrate positive behaviors, which improve mental outcomes. The expansion of one’s reasoning scope is tied to meditation (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Foundationally, the involved processes allow an individual to develop a creative stance. Thus, they can be involved in activities that alleviate the possibility of experiencing a mental breakdown. Involving oneself in meditation also expands the mind and the level of imagination. This ability advances opportunities to think about interventions that would improve outcomes in varied situations. Thus, meditation is critical to mental health.

Reference

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress. Mayoclinic.org. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858

Do You Know the Benefits of Therapy?

Leave a comment July 6, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Therapy is a powerful tool to confront life’s challenges, recover from past traumas, and maximize one’s potential. Recently, therapy has gained popularity due to its numerous benefits. Nevertheless, despite its advantages, therapy is sometimes discriminated against and misunderstood. This article explores the most significant benefits of therapy and why seeking assistance from a qualified therapist is essential.

Firstly, therapy treats different mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Working with a professional therapist contributes to acquiring coping strategies and skills that help regulate emotions, boosting mental health as a whole. Besides, therapy provides a secure and supportive environment for introspection and exploration of one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Consequently, such self-awareness enhances self-discovery and development.

Therapy also assists in better communication and connection with others, whether in personal or professional relationships. Individuals can enhance their relationships and quality of life by handling communication challenges, trust issues, or conflict resolution. Therapy also helps individuals cultivate the resilience and skills necessary to overcome life’s obstacles and effectively manage stress and adversity while establishing a sturdy support system and healthy coping mechanisms.

Furthermore, therapy helps people change their internal paradigm of understanding the world around them, in particular, to overcome opposing worldviews. Constant work with a professional will help people rethink their values, learn more about the world around them and dare to make changes (Rosenblatt, 2021). As a result, it can lead to defeating bad habits, increased productivity at work, and improved physical conditions due to reduced stress.

To summarize, therapy is an opportunity for personal growth, healing, and self-discovery, which provides immense potential when working with a qualified therapist. Psychology contributes to mental health, increases self-awareness, better relationships, increases resilience, and facilitates personal development. Do not let the stigma surrounding therapeutic assistance hinder exploring the benefits it can bring.

Reference

Rosenblatt, K. (2021, October 18). 12 rewarding benefits of therapy. Talkspace. Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://www.talkspace.com/blog/benefits-of-therapy/

The Connection Between Sleep Quality and Mental Health

Leave a comment July 3, 2023 Jessica Feagin

By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

The connection between mental health and sleep quality is intricate and multifaceted, with a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that influence each other in various ways by affecting the release of stress hormones, altering mood-regulating brain chemicals, disrupting normal cognitive function, and interfering with the circadian rhythm. Sleep deprivation can increase the release of stress hormones, change mood-regulating brain chemicals, and disrupt normal cognitive function, ultimately leading to emotional instability and mood swings. Poor sleep quality is closely correlated with a broad spectrum of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress (Alshumrani et al., 2022). On the other hand, mental health disorders can adversely affect the quality of sleep, thus leading to insomnia or other sleep disturbances such as nightmares, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder. While individuals with anxiety disorders often experience racing thoughts and restlessness that interfere with their ability to fall asleep, those with depression struggle to stay asleep due to recurring negative thoughts or nightmares. Moreover, certain medications used to treat mental health disorders, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, substantially impact sleep quality by altering sleep architecture and disrupting the circadian rhythm (Alshumrani et al., 2022). Therefore, the relationship between mental health and sleep quality is intricate, as unsatisfactory sleep quality can lead to mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and stress, and mental health disorders may cause insomnia and other sleep disturbances due to symptoms like racing thoughts, restlessness, recurring negative views, and nightmares.

The interdependent nature of sleep quality and mental health underscores the importance of improving both domains in a comprehensive approach. Fortunately, several empirically supported strategies, such as practicing good sleep hygiene, have been developed to bolster both domains. To promote good sleep and ultimately improve mental health, individuals can engage in good sleep hygiene habits and practices, which entails adhering to a consistent sleep schedule, refraining from consuming caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and creating a conducive environment for sleeping, such as maintaining a comfortable temperature and minimizing distractions (Nowakowski et al., 2022). Additionally, individuals can reduce anxiety and racing thoughts that may disrupt their sleep quality by practicing mindfulness meditation before bedtime, focusing on the present moment without judgment to mitigate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improving sleep quality (Nowakowski et al., 2022). If implementing the strategies mentioned above does not alleviate sleep disruptions and mental health issues, one may opt to seek assistance from a healthcare professional who can accurately diagnose and manage any underlying mental health conditions that might be exacerbating sleep disturbances and possibly suggest alternative science-based treatments like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).

References

Alshumrani, R., Qanash, S., Aldobyany, A., Alhejaili, F., AlQassas, I., Shabrawishi, M., Alnashiwaty, O., Badghaish, M., Adnan, M., Afeef, A. B., Alghamdi, D., Aljehani, S., Alsurahi, A., Faruqui, A., Krayem, A., Manzar, M. D., & Wali, S. (2022). Sleep quality and mental health in coronavirus disease 2019 patients and general population during the pandemic. Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 17(1), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.4103/atm.atm_191_21

Nowakowski, S., Kokonda, M., Sultana, R., Duong, B. B., Nagy, S. E., Zaidan, M. F., Baig, M. M., Grigg, B. V., Seashore, J., & Deer, R. R. (2022). Association between sleep quality and mental health among patients at a post-COVID-19 recovery clinic. Brain Sciences, 12(5), 586. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12050586

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#MentalHealth

Mental Health Stigma

Sadness Can Turn into Depression

Can Depression Affect Your Work Performance?

Why Is It Hard to Focus When You Are Depressed?

Let’s Beat Depression by Eating Healthy

Did You Know That Depression Can Cause Your Body to Ache?

What is PTSD?

The Benefits of Meditation to Improve Mental Health

Do You Know the Benefits of Therapy?

The Connection Between Sleep Quality and Mental Health