Our mental health - with how much can we cope?

Hope and fear are normal, but when either controls our lives, it tends to cause an imbalance leaving us unable to sleep andfunction normally. Mostly, this is transient, our coping mechanisms protect us, and we find our balance again quickly. When we are faced with prolonged stress, pain or abuse, a numbness can set in and it takes longer to recover. In some cases, the patterns of fear and desperation become our new normal.

None of us has lived through a pandemic. The unknown can sometimes be frightful, and this threat was particularly uncertain, at times confusing, leaving us bewildered, stressed and possibly terrified. Each of us will have been impacted and coped with it differently; whether it was facing our own or a loved one's loneliness, loss of income or status, health fragility, mortality or worse, having someone close pass away. We all learned new coping skills - some good, some not so good - and at certain times we may have simply given up when we could not cope any longer.

This is when our emotions are at their rawest; we may not be able to think as clearly as before and become prone to more damaging mental illness. Although there are many factors that contribute to mental illness - not only a pandemic, external pressure or the society we are living in - there is no single cause for the development of mental problems and therefore no bulletproof way of preventing it.

All of the below factors can play a role:

• Genes and family history;
• Life experiences, such as stress or a history of abuse, especially if they happen in childhood;
• Biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain;
• A traumatic brain injury;
• A mother's exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant;
• Use of alcohol or recreational drugs;
• Having a serious medical condition like cancer; or
• Having few friends, and feeling lonely or isolated.

If we are facing a mental health challenge, we do not have to deal with it alone. There are tools - healthcare professionals, medication and groups - that can help and support us. Seeking help when symptoms appear should be no different from going to the dentist to sort out a toothache, or the doctor when you have a high fever, but for some reason we are all scared to face the depths of our emotions and brains. Like with any other chronic condition, the longer it's left, the harder it becomes to treat.

The first step is recognising a problem, be it your own or someone else's. Keep an eye out for warning signs, understand and recognise the triggers and what to look out for. There are a variety of emotional and mental disturbances and symptoms may differ depending on the condition and circumstances.

Here are a few examples of symptoms:

• Life experienceDramatic changes to sleep and appetite;
• Decline in personal care and hygiene;
• Rapid or dramatic shifts in emotions;
• Withdrawal from social activities that the person previously enjoyed;
• Change in performance at school, work or social activities that is out of the ordinary;
• Problems with concentration, memory or logical thought and speech that are hard to explain;
• Heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch;
• Loss of initiative or desire to participate in any activity;
• Vague feeling of being disconnected from oneself or one's surroundings; a sense of unreality;
• Unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand meanings or influence events; illogical or 'magical' thinking typical of childhood in an adult;
• Fear or suspiciousness of others;
• Uncharacteristic behaviour; or
• Suicidal thoughts.

When to see a doctor or support a loved one

It is best to seek professional help if you notice any of these symptoms or, if experiencing suicidal thoughts, one should seek help immediately. You could start with seeing your GP; if needed, they can refer you to a specialist for further treatment. If you notice these symptoms in a loved one, it is best to have an open discussion. Although you might not be able to convince them to take up professional care, you can still offer them support and understanding.

You can also help them to find a qualified mental health professional, make an appointment and offer to accompany them to the appointment. Take your loved one to a hospital or call for help if they have harmed themselves or are considering doing so.

Teen mental healthcare

Mental illness can start quite young, with 50% of conditions starting by age 14, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite this, mental illness largely goes undetected and untreated at these ages. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), 9% of all teen deaths are desperate young people ending their own lives.

SADAG points to a major link between depression and suicide, particularly where the signs of depression are not recognised and treated.

World Health Organization data further shows that:

• Depression is the fourth leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents aged 15 to 19 while anxiety is the ninth leading cause. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in this age group; and
• 90% of adolescent suicides take place in the world's low- or middle-income countries.

To sum it all up, it's no wonder why we or our loved ones struggle with everything that is going on around us. It is important to remember that you are not alone and that you shouldn't hesitate to reach out to healthcare professionals and services, and make use of the tools and help that are available to you.

Sources: Discovery Health, World Health Organization, South African Depression and Anxiety Group

Published: May 2022.