Page 30 - Seniorstoday April 2023 Issue

Health
It’s time we acknowledge
Mental Health issues
Making ourselves aware of the various conditions is the need of the day,
writes Dr Nandini Saini
Mental illness is a part of our society and it’s
time we acknowledge it. It affects all of us to
some extent, at some point in our lives. No
one is exempt, not children, not seniors.
According to the WHO, mental health
is more than just the absence of mental
disease. It is the ability of an individual to
make decisions, manage stress, and realise
their potential. It dictates how one thinks,
acts, behaves. It allows them to have
healthy relationships. It is an important
component of one’s socio economic growth
and wellbeing.
It’s a basic human right of every person.
Factors determining mental health
Genetics and biological factors
Research shows that certain genes, if
dominant, can predispose you to mental
disturbances. Mental disturbances also run
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in families.
Of course, having a gene does NOT mean
that you WILL get the disorder. Similarly;
not having the gene doesn’t protect you from
them.
Incidents at developmentally important
stages
Childhood trauma, such as child abuse,
separation, loss of a parent, can affect mental
health, leaving a person vulnerable to mental
disturbances.
Flexible factors – such as occupation,
education and housing situation.
An occupation with limited income, lack
of adequate education, unsafe staying
conditions can all lead to various mental
disorders.
Inflexible factors – such as gender and age.
Research has found that women are 4 times
more at risk of developing unhealthy mental