Mental illnesses have increased after the pandemic
The latest report published by the World Health Organization is clear: “Mental illnesses are already the main cause of disability and they are responsible for one in every six years lived with a disability.” The statement, as real as it is overwhelming, should help us reflect and assess the quality of our mental health, as well as act accordingly.
Prevention is better than cure and any warning sign, no matter how minor it may seem, can be more than enough to take a step forward and put yourself in the hands of professionals. Society has been working together for some time to try to make the taboo about asking for psychological help disappear, but there is still a long way to go. At least for certain profiles more reluctant to show their ‘weaknesses’if you can call that a problem that affects 25% of the world’s population.
Luis Moya He is a doctor in psychology and professor of psychobiology, therefore he is the authorized voice to analyze everything stated above and much more. Just published ‘Do I need psychological help?’ (Plataforma Editorial), a work that helps us detect signs of mental health problems as well as find the best way to ask for help.
Luis Moya is very clear that “there are various reasons why it is difficult for us to go to the psychologist, but above all they have to do with cultural reasons. He has always understood himself as a weakness and a shame. Traditionally we have been taught that we should be strong and able to handle everything without help and that is not the case.”
In fact, this becomes more acute in the case of men and after a certain age: “The older the person is, the more difficult it is for them to seek help. For men aged 50 or over, it is unthinkable to show vulnerability. There are even very educated people who believe that being strong means not falling into depression, as if it were a choice. We do not choose to get sick, have depression or anxiety. “They think they can control everything and they are ashamed to ask for help.”
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Luis Moya, author of Do I need psychological help? How and where to find it
Fortunately, as Dr. Moya explains to us, it seems that the new generations are turning this situation around: “Young society is making it more normal to go to a psychologist. While in previous generations it was seen as something crazy and a shame that was hidden in families, now we are moving away from that way of thinking.”
Not knowing or not seeing
However, not everything revolves around a personal decision. “Many people do not seek help because they do not know they are wrong, they do not want to see it or they do not want others to see it. Lack of emotional education to recognize and manage emotions,” analyzes Luis Moya, who provides other reasons why psychological help is not sought.
“The fear of facing what is happening is a great limitation. Many people wait until they are in a very serious situation before seeking help. This is a process that accumulates and can lead to considering the professional help as a last hope. “Addictions, for example, are often attempts to regulate emotional dysregulation,” he explains.
Dr. Moya offers us a series of signs to look out for: “The most common alarms of mental problems include changes in mood, demotivation, lack of self-care, irritability, disturbed sleep and eating, and a decrease in work or academic performance.”
Our health system, in any case, is not prepared to take on all the psychological problems that affect the population. Luis Moya, not in vain, report with concern. “Our system does not allocate enough resources to mental health, and many people with significant conditions end up being treated only by family doctors who do not have adequate training for these cases.”
Cover of the book ‘Do I need psychological help? How and where to find it
But it doesn’t stop there. “Many suicides could be prevented with better mental health service. Currently, serious cases are only treated if there are planned suicidal ideas; otherwise, they stay with the family doctor. “I don’t understand why more resources aren’t allocated to this issue, if only because of the high economic and social cost that mental health problems entail.”
Let’s present some figures to explain what mental health problems mean today. According to the Confederation of Mental Health of Spain and taking as reference data collected by the WHO, 12.5% of all health problems are represented by mental disorders, a figure greater than that of cancer and cardiovascular problems. Furthermore, between 35% and 50% of these people never receive treatment or the treatment they undergo is not appropriate.
If we focus on Spain, according to a study carried out by the College of Psychologists of Spain, almost two thirds of those surveyed acknowledge that they suffer from stress while, here we are beginning to see the light, 65% of the sample explains that they have visited a mental health specialist in the last year.
Luis Moya gives us his vision on the problem of stress specifically: “Stress is an adaptive response that allows us to solve problems. However, Chronic stress can cause serious health problems. Today’s society has a better quality of life, but it also faces many chronic stress processes. Stress management depends on how each person experiences situations and the social support they have.”
Balance, key
It is true that the current pace of life is not easy for anyone to follow, although it is a situation that each person manages in their own way. “What we consider healthy depends on how we live. Stress has two components: what happens externally and how we perceive it. Living with stress depends on the connotation we put on it. If I have more demands than I can handle, I get stressed. “It is important to balance demands with our resources.”
Based on everything stated above, Dr. Moya offers us a series of tips to take care of our mental health. “Self-care is essential: to be well with others, you must first be well with yourself. This includes physical exercise, good nutrition, sleep rhythm, optimism and meditation. There are 24 hours in a day, so we must evaluate what we can do and what we give up.”
Age appears as another cause of possible stress. However, that can also be combated. “As we age, we mourn our physical and mental abilities. What ages us is routine. The brain is neuroplastic and can create new synapses throughout life. If we do not give the brain opportunities, we can enter depressive processes. Aging can be stressful, but it depends on our ability to self-care. Maintaining physical and mental activity is crucial to avoid anxiety and depression.”
Validate feelings
Let’s go from the first person to the second. From looking at ourselves to looking at others and how it is good to react when we see that someone may be suffering from mental health problems. Luis Moya also gives us some guidelines: “The first thing is to validate your feelings and emotions, listen and speak openly. It is essential to reach out emotionally and offer practical help. We should not minimize their problems or compare them with our experiences. It is important that the person feels understood and gives them options to seek professional help if necessary.”
To finish, Luis Moya takes us to a ideal world and how one could approach day-to-day life at the level of mental health. “I would recommend an annual psychological review if possible, although it is currently impossible because the mental health system is overwhelmed. If one can afford it, psychotherapy can always help, since there are always things to improve and resolve. It is essential to seek help quickly if we think we may be unwell. In an ideal world, a regular psychological check-up would be great.”