The Importance of Mental Health Awareness in this time of Pandemic.

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Our Country has been battling the spread of COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic on the mental illness of people gets little attention or is put on the back ring, which has far more long-term effects and concerns. In this regard, it is thought-inciting to look at the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of Filipinos, the general mental health situation in our Country, and the various existing intercessions open to talk mental health-related concerns.

What Exactly is a Mental Illness

A mental illness is a physical illness of the brain that causes disturbances in thinking, behavior, energy or emotion that makes it difficult to cope with the ordinary demands of life. Research is starting to uncover the complicated causes of these diseases which can include genetics, brain chemistry, brain structure, experiencing trauma and/or having another medical condition, like heart disease.

The two most common mental health conditions are:

Anxiety Disorders – refers to specific psychiatric disorders that involve extreme fear or worry, and includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, separation anxiety, and specific phobias.

Mood Disorders –is a mental health problem that primarily affects a person's emotional state. It is a disorder in which a person experiences long periods of extreme happiness, extreme sadness, or both. It is normal for someone's mood to change, depending on the situation.

What You Can Do to Help

The importance of mental illness initiatives is just as crucial as those for the Covid-19 pandemic we need to promote holistic approach, where we are caring for the body, the mind, and even the spirit.

Here a few powerful things you can do to help:

· Let them know that you care about them and that they are not alone, empathize with them.

· Show that you are listening by repeating information they have shared with you.

· If you're unsure about how to help, reach out to medical professionals for guidance.