The sudden rise of mental health awareness in recent years is a positive impact on our future.
Ever since the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, many people around the world stayed inside to not risk getting infected by the contagious virus. From a couple of weeks to months; students, parents, office workers, teachers, etc., were told to stay indoors for their safety. This prevented them from staying in contact with their peers, families, coworkers, etc. This situation created social isolation and loneliness. “When you’re lonely, it’s normal to feel like you’re the only one who isn’t okay.” Mental Health America (MHA) in a recent article. Based on MHA’s screening data, loneliness/isolation is the number one thing contributing to feelings of depression or anxiety right now – over 72% of respondents said it was one of their top 3 stressors.
From this survey alone, the rise of loneliness during quarantine is one of the many causes of depression and anxiety. Many would of us would think the elderly would be the hardest hit by the overwhelming loneliness during quarantine. But surprisingly the Young Adults surpass the elderly. In a study by researchers at Making Caring Common, 36 percent of respondents to a national survey of approximately 950 Americans reported feeling lonely. What is shocking was that 61 percent of those aged 18 to 25 reported high levels. “I was surprised at the degree of loneliness among young people,” said Richard Weissbourd, a psychologist and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) who helped lead the research. “If you look at other studies on the elderly, their rates of loneliness are high, but they don’t seem to be as high as they are for young people.” These days young people are dealing with poor mental health due to their environment and mindset.
In general, this built-up stress, loneliness, isolation, and fear during covid-19 have made us aware of our mental health.
During quarantine, many people had the time to reflect on themselves. Most importantly the current state of the world and their well-being. The internet was our best friend during this lonely time. Because it was our entertainment, a way for us to connect and most importantly learn information we are curious about. There was a spike in searches online regarded mental health and different types of mental illnesses. Thousands of news articles, medical blogs, mental health forums, mental health apps, and mental health knowledge were shared among all socials. More people were gaining more knowledge and awareness of Mental Health Issues and Disorders. Something that was once taboo became relatable. Others seek professional help to understand themselves and others.
Many people after quarantine were open to discussing mental health in public. This is great since people can relieve their stress and connect with others in a deep and more meaningful way. Especially with the state of the world, people want to find comfort in others.
Teachers would now ask about their student's mental health issues and pressures to help their student achieve their goals. Managers, CEOs, and other leaders around the world are doing the same. Many parents are becoming more cautious about their kid's mental well-being. Even kids are starting to become more respectful towards each other since they have more awareness of mental health. When more people are aware of mental health, they tend to treat others with more kindness and care. If this continues in the future, there would be more kinder communities around the world, not just in the United States.
That’s why the sudden rise of mental health awareness in recent years is a positive impact on our future.
My Experience:
I still remembered how little mental health awareness was supported when I was younger. Many of my peers would brush off their worries and stress saying, “It’ll go away on its own”. This was before Covid-19 when I was still in Middle School. I also had the same issues and would often find myself confused by my emotions. I was too scared to talk to anyone without feeling judged. Even when I opened up about these worries and fears to the most trusted people I know. My parents would say “Just ignore it.” Just like how my peers would deal with these issues. When I was struggling in school trying to focus. It was very difficult since I would put twice as much effort into studying compared to my classmates. I still wouldn’t get the same score as them. Even though I studied twice as hard, I wasn’t able to pay attention during the test. I felt like there might be something wrong with my brain, but the problem is I don’t know what.
When I bring up these concerns to my parents, they would often say, “You're just trying to find an excuse because you're lazy. You're not putting 100% into your studying. Angela there isn't anything wrong with you just need to focus.” Believing in my parents' words I worked harder than ever. Yet nothing much paid off. I was so mad and disappointed in myself. My anger with myself turned into sadness. I felt hopeless, no one had the “focusing” issues except for me. But everyone tells me how attentive and sharp I was when I do daily tasks. During this time, it was quite confusing and contradicting. If I can perform activities like playing violin and taking leadership positions in groups well then why doesn't it apply to taking a test or quiz?
This issue of mine continued until I decided to do some research during quarantine. After reading, watching, and listening to podcasts, articles, and youtube videos of others discussing their problems with focusing. I brought these concerns up to my family doctor. My doctor recommended I get tested and afterward, I work with a psychiatrist to deal with ADHD. I feel more relaxed now since I don't stress about the "unknown". Instead of wasting my time in accepting my previous mental state and issues. I've taken the steps to find out the issues and heal/build healthier habits to deal with ADHD. To be honest, if I had never quarantined then it would've taken years to put a label on my issue. I guess it depends on how an individual spends their time during quartine. I realized that after being diagnosed/treated, I'm much more understanding of other people's mental health issues.
For me, it was researching and understanding my issues. Many other teens around the world also spent their quartine reflecting or researching their issues. I know that not everyone spent their time researching their problems but I've noticed a huge difference in people's behaviors towards each other. My classmates for example are more respectful and understanding when someone says their dealing with mental health issues. This understanding and support for others is great because it gives a safe space for everyone to focus on their mental health.
This is much better than people projecting their insecurities on others and suffering alone with their mental health issues.
Comentários