Hello, Let's Talk About Mental Health

Mental health disorder is becoming a trendy topic, but how many of us assess and look after our mental health? What do you do when you find yourself becoming overwhelmed or burnt out? Do you know the signs and symptoms of depression, or are you just hoping what you feel isn't real?

Maybe you believe you are too strong to suffer from any mental health disorder; let's face it, everyone will, at some point, be affected. Growing up in Liberia, West Africa, I never knew what being stressed meant or want anxiety was. We just went from one day to the next, hoping life would magically improve. I have learned over the years that mental health is vital as my mental state governs my entire being. It is like the engine of a car; if you suffer from depression and are weighted down with negative, worrying thoughts, you cannot be fully productive in other areas of your life. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Mental illnesses contribute to physical conditions and vice versa.

It is easy for me to write, "Look after your mental state", but in reality, it becomes insignificant when you are worrying about where your next meal is coming from or whether you would afford your children's school fees for next semester. But even as life is filled with uncertainties, the decisions we make govern and influence all areas of our lives almost always depend on the state of our mental health.

According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, 1 in every 8 people or more precisely 970 million people worldwide, lived with a mental disorder.

Mental Health In Liberia, West Africa