Meaning of mental health
According to psychotherapist Layal Azizi, “Mental health is the level of psychological well-being, in which a person has a mind free from disorders, and enjoys positive psychological and emotional health.” Mental health is very important, as a person lives in a state of constant anxiety, internal turmoil and tension without it. Therefore, focusing on our mental health becomes just as necessary as we care about our physical health.”
Lebanese mental health
The Lebanese are among the 10 most stressed and sad people in the world, according to Gallup’s World Sentiment Report. The study shows that with the escalation of the difficulties of life in Lebanon, negative emotions have risen to an all-time high. In this study conducted in the year 2021, it was found that every three out of four people suffer from stress and stress throughout the day. Those who conducted the study confirmed that half of Lebanon’s population also suffer from many cases of sadness and anger. In a study conducted by the Lebanese University, it showed that nearly 17% of the Lebanese have suffered from severe depression since the Beirut port explosion.
In this context, Azizi explains to Al-Modon that “all that we went through in Lebanon from Corona, the port explosion, and the difficult economic and social conditions, left devastating psychological effects on the Lebanese people, and increased the rate of mental disorders. One of the most prominent of these disorders is psychological anxiety.” . And she confirms that the demand for psychological treatment has increased by more than 50%, thanks to the increase in awareness of the importance of psychological care and the reduction of prejudice against those who resort to it and not considering it a “taboo”. However, there is still a significant group that labels the mentally ill as “crazy”, which is a popular expression that does not encourage confronting the disease and treatment.
She added, “Unfortunately, psychological treatment is still considered a luxury. It does not receive support, although it is a necessity. With the difficult life conditions we are going through in Lebanon, some people find it difficult to resort to psychological treatment.” She pointed out that psychotherapists are aware of the situation and are helping a lot by reducing costs and volunteering with associations that provide services for free.
Children’s mental health is essential
Taking care of children and their proper development and physical health is a top priority for parents, but that is not enough if the goal is to provide a happy, stable and successful life for their child. Good mental health is the key to healthy development and is just as important as physical health. Children’s mental health controls their feelings about themselves and the world around them, and it has a major role in how children deal with life’s pressures and challenges. Its safety also helps them develop their social and behavioral skills, which are reflected in their lives even after childhood.
In this context, child psychotherapist and family counseling and guidance specialist, Reham Munther, told Al-Modon that raising children according to balanced mental health is an essential matter. This is to avoid any disturbances or psychological problems in the future, and to increase their psychological resilience and happiness. She stresses that the older a person who has a psychological problem since childhood that has not been treated or diagnosed, the more difficult it becomes and the more difficult it is to deal with and treat.
Munther asserts that “mental health has nothing to do with the financial situation, that is, even people who are not able financially can raise mentally healthy children, because the basis for education is love, understanding, dialogue and respect, and helping children to express, discharge and listen, not money and gifts.” And she continues her talk about the difficult conditions that the parents go through and the extent to which the children are affected by them, saying: “When parents suffer from psychological challenges, the children are affected by the condition of their parents, and the degree of vulnerability depends on the difficulty of the psychological challenges that the parents face.”
She concluded her speech, “It is not necessary for every child to undergo psychological treatment, but it is necessary for parents to seek the help of an educational counselor, to find out if their educational approach is correct and how to deal with daily difficulties and challenges, without their behavior having negative effects on children. With learning how to establish a dialogue Effective with them, and ensuring the upbringing of children with sound psychological and behavioral health.
After all, every country in the world requires massive and sustained mental health awareness efforts, not just one month. In addition, it is necessary to change the culture of societies, in order to accept psychological and mental illnesses as health problems similar to organic problems. Psychiatric or mentally ill people should not be described in offensive terms that hinder their treatment or lead them to resort to cover-up for fear of bullying and ostracism. Everyone must be provided with a supportive and equal environment, where individuals can seek help and treatment without fear of ostracism or discrimination. Together, we can build a more positive and supportive community for mental health for all.
2023-05-22 09:10:15
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