I. What is Mental Health and Mental Illness Mental health is about feeling good, but it’s not just about how your heart feels. When you are mentally healthy, you feel that life is good and that you get along with most of the people you know. You’re not always sad or worried about trivial things. You don’t think that the people around you are trying to hurt you and that the whole world is against you. Life can be tough at times, yet most of the time, you are enjoying it. Mental health is about how people feel, how they think and how they see the world. Without mental health, it is difficult to deal with everyday things and to live a full and happy life. When people have problems with their mental health, we call this a mental illness or psychological problem. There are many types of mental illness, some illnesses change the way people think, some change their moods and some affect their behavior. Mental illness changes the way a person feels and the way they relate to people. Its symptoms can be mild or severe. Illnesses have a variety of causes, can happen to anyone, and treatment is effective, especially when early onset is attended to and dealt with. Even when experiencing serious mental problems, people can still have a fruitful and constructive life. Common psychological and psychiatric problems include insomnia, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, social fears, obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatoform disorders, eating problems (anorexia and bulimia), stress problems, bipolar, adolescent and menopausal mood disorders, geriatric psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, and so on. Who can get mental illness? Anyone can get mental illness, no matter how high or low, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, regardless of race, culture or beliefs, mental illness can affect every person and every family. Mental illness can affect every person and every family, regardless of race, culture, or belief. Mental illness does not occur when a person stops believing or ceases to practice a religion. Spiritual pursuits can give strength and help overcome difficulties, but the absence of faith does not cause illness. There is no shame in having an illness, but sometimes there can be shame in not seeking help, which can lead to more trouble. If you don’t seek help, advice or treatment, mental illness can get worse with delay. Just like physical illnesses, mental illnesses are caused by the interaction of environmental and biological factors. It is important to intervene early and be aware of risk factors. Environmental factors include everything that surrounds us in our daily lives, such as daily work, income, stress, disappointment, loss of family, abuse, neglect and traumatic experiences. Our brain and body are made up of biochemicals and the brain has many neurotransmitters and neural pathways. Mental illnesses arise when chemicals are altered in the brain and body, the structure of the brain is changed in some people, and the operational functions associated with different parts of the brain are altered. There are things that happen in the environment that can catalyze changes in brain neurotransmitters and functioning, or events that create changes in the chemicals in the brain that result in a different view of the environment. Stress is an example of how environmental and physiological factors can affect mental health. All stress affects our bodies by making the heart beat faster, short of breath, aches and pains, experiencing insomnia, eating disorders, or feeling an upset stomach. Stress caused by traumatic experiences (war, racism, rape, discrimination, and abuse to name a few) can have a huge impact on our psyche. If we don’t handle traumatic stress well, negative experiences can cause physical and emotional problems, especially if there are predisposing qualities. Fourth, can you recover from mental illness There is a possibility of full recovery for people with mental illness, and some people can recover. Some become stronger and wiser from their experiences, others come out of rock bottom but still have intermittent relapses, and some have less than ideal outcomes and continue to receive long-term treatment. It is difficult for mental health practitioners and psychologists to accurately predict how well each person will heal and what the future holds. Unfortunately, sometimes people are told they can’t be cured, and hearing this can add to the despair and delay the recovery period. Regardless of what you are told, never give up, and recovery from all mental illnesses is possible. It is possible to live, work, learn and participate fully in the community despite the illness. Recovery is possible if you believe it is possible and have the support you need, including people who believe your situation will improve and nurture your hope. Environmental factors predispose to illness, but it can also be a major contributing factor to recovery. The support and care of family, and the trust of friends and mental health workers to help you build hope can all contribute to the recovery process. V. What patients can do for their own recovery Understand your own strengths and needs, think about them often and keep track of what they are. Believe that recovery is possible and take the initiative to talk and communicate with recovered patients. Learn as much as you can about your condition, including how to manage and control it. Accept the limitations imposed by the condition and continue to live and work with the discomfort. Know that you need to seek help when you have a medical condition and actively seek it. Follow the advice of a doctor you trust, follow up with your doctor on time, and don’t arbitrarily reduce or stop your medication. Non-standardized treatment tends to make the disease prolonged, chronic, and relapsing, and worsens the damage to your brain. Believe in your ability to recover and learn to overcome negative attitudes. Develop hobbies, keep playing sports (e.g., playing ball games, or walking briskly for 1 hour a day), maintain interpersonal relationships, etc. Build up hope, believe that you can handle your life and achieve your goals and realize your dreams. Sixth, how family members should help the patient Family members can help recognize early symptoms of the disease, can assist the patient in seeking help and choosing treatment wisely, and can also give support and care during treatment, and this help is very important for patients who are battling the disease. Believe in the patient’s potential for recovery, use language that is full of hope and possibility, and don’t complain. You need to have faith when the patient has low confidence and should realize that the process of recovery varies from person to person. Encourage the patient to lead an active and fulfilling life. For example, encourage him to seek employment, go to school, socialize, volunteer, and also organize some family activities. Be realistic, do not expect too much or too little, and focus on the patient’s abilities. Remember, the patient is the same person as before, the only difference is that he or she has encountered difficulties in life and is unable to deal with problems as before. It is important to focus on the safety of the patient, some patients have thoughts at some stage and family members should be with them at all times. Studies have shown that after a person commits suicide, at least six people close to them will feel guilty and suffer for months or even years. It is important for the family to take care of the patient and keep them safe for the sake of the patient and themselves. While family members are caring for the patient, they must also be mindful of their own needs by taking care of you and making sure that your own life is not affected, even if it is difficult or out of the norm to do so. For example, continue to work, keep up your hobbies, and if you have planned a trip earlier, go as planned and delegate care to someone else. As the patient gradually recovers, let them adjust to life at their own pace. Try to do things with them, but don’t do it for them. Encourage them to do things on their own, as this will help them develop confidence. Be aware of when you should do something. Keep an eye on the person’s symptoms and if they seem to be getting worse, seek help immediately. Become active in local support or self-help organizations. Keep in mind that family support is very, very important to a patient’s recovery. Family support allows the patient to reach their potential, face the disease better, and live a better life.