Introduction
Many of those who want to know what is mental health are either patients themselves, or people who are looking to learn more for a friend or family member. Although people have reflected on mental health for hundreds of years, it has only been from the 20th century onwards that mental health conditions have been fully understood. Trying to find out what is mental health will involve looking towards the right sources and avoiding those places where you are likely to be fed false information. The first step towards finding mental health advice should include visiting your family physician. If you suspect that you are suffering from poor mental health, they will be able to give you some information, as well as a relevant diagnosis. If you are someone who wants to find out what mental health is for a loved one or because you are curious, look towards online resources. The Mayo Clinic, the NHS, and the American Psychological Association are all great sites for finding out more about mental health.
History of Mental Health
In order to understand what is mental health, sometimes it is necessary to look into its history. As mentioned before, the area of mental health has always been reflected on by health professionals, but not always in the best way. In the 17th century, those who were mentally ill would often be mistaken for witches, and as such they would either be incarcerated or burned at the steak. It wasn't until the 18th century that mental health studies really came into their own, and hospitals began to open to treat those with conditions. Unfortunately, these hospitals did not always take the best approach. Rather than trying to help patients, they would subject them to examinations in order to discover more about mental health conditions and would often segregate them. In the 20th century, conditions such as depression and schizophrenia gradually received more progressive coverage. It was during the earlier parts of the century that psychology really began to develop, building on theories that were coined by famous psychologists such as Freud.
Features of Mental Health Information
Thanks to the birth of the Internet, it is easier than ever to find out about mental health conditions. If you are one of the many people who wonders what is mental health on a daily basis, you will be pleasantly surprised at what information is out there and how easy it is to access it. By conducting a simple online search about a certain condition, you will be able to provide yourself with information that can be enlightening as well as useful. In addition to focusing on the Internet for mental health information, it is now possible to contact charities directly. As there are so many different mental health conditions out there, there are also many charities that represent them, all of which can provide leaflets and statistics for those who want to learn more.
Tips and comments
- When trying to find out what is mental health, try to avoid forums. Although forums often have many users that are well-meaning, there will also be quite a few who are likely to offer up inaccurate information, as well as useless comments. Not only will this lead you onto the wrong track, it can be a little upsetting.
- If you know a friend or family member who has a mental health condition, you can always ask them for information. They may be able to pass on words of wisdom from their own care team.
- If you have a local library, it is a good idea to search for information there.
