Importance of seeking early treatment for mental illness

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"According to World Health Organisation predictions, depression will be the leading cause of disease burden globally, by the year 2030. Closer to home, a recent newspaper article suggested that one third of South Africans suffer from a mental health condition. In the face of these two statistics it's clear that assuming most people don't or won't suffer from some form of mental condition at some point in their lives, is faulty thinking."

Defined as a mental or bodily condition marked primarily by sufficient disorganisation of personality, mind and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological functioning of the individual, mental illness all too often result in patients 'suffering in silence'.

"Because of the negative stigma associated with mental illness which is perpetuated by a lack of information regarding mental health, most people with mental health conditions become very good at functioning in society whilst hiding their suffering because they feel too anxious or ashamed to get help. For this reason people often spend much longer suffering unnecessarily," explains Coats.

Levels of intervention

"Depending on the nature and severity of the disorder, different levels of intervention may be necessary. Some disorders will be life-long; however, this does not mean patients need to suffer from the symptoms eternally. Rather, seeking treatment early and maintaining support through psychotherapy and medication will substantially reduce the impact of the symptoms on their daily living, as well as their productivity. The sooner patients seek treatment, the sooner they can develop healthy coping strategies that allow them to manage their disorder rather than have the disorder managing them."

While treatment by mental health practitioners and hospitalisation may be vital, support and input from family members and friends can also go a long way in improving the mental well-being of a person, adds Coats.

Coats negates the perception that depression 'is a choice' and that people 'can snap out of it'. "When people are depressed, it's as though they are wearing negatively tinted glasses and when they look at themselves, their world or their future, they only see the negative aspects of each. They are unable to hear or take on positive feedback about themselves from others, they view their environment as unsatisfying or too demanding and they struggle to even think of the future because they lack a sense of hope that good things can and will happen."

Reinforcing belief

"For a depressed person, these negatively tinted glasses practically filters out any positive stimulation and only focuses on the negative around them, which then reinforces their internal belief that they are a failure, the world is terrible and life isn't worth living.

"The longer this goes untreated, the more fixed and negative those lenses become and the deeper the depressive spiral develops, making it harder to treat. While this can be very frustrating for their loved ones, it's important to know that a person with depression cannot simply 'shake it off'; it's a lens that needs to be appropriately challenged and changed through supportive therapeutic intervention by a mental health professional," she says.

"Seeking treatment is a brave first step which often requires immense courage from the individual. It does not mean you are weak. It does not mean you have failed. It means you have the self-awareness and insight to recognise that something is not quite right - and the courage to talk about it," Coats concludes.