Consequences of Mental Health Problems

By: Bikal Dhungel 

Mental Health is the most serious problem today in both developing and developed countries. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one fourth of the world population suffer from any form of mental health problem some time in life. Currently, about 500 million people are living with it but the actual number of supposed to be much higher as there is no data from low and middle income countries. The WHO also mentions that two thirds of these people do not seek any help. The recent reports published by the WHO and other UN bodies are more than scary. The prevalence is higher than ever and over 40% of countries do not have any Mental Health policies. Policies are very important in this case because otherwise, there will be no direct plans to fight the disease. Hence, the medicine for any form of mental health problems cannot be provided efficiently with the lack of regulations. This puts the patients in a vulnerable condition that they use medicine without the supervision of health professionals causing dire consequences on their health. Mental health is also not fully accepted in a society as a disease that can be treated. Still, the general understanding about Mental Health is that it comes from personal failure in life and the inability of individuals to get life and relationships sorted. This is not that simple as many would like to hear but has both biological as well as environmental/behavioural aspects. Whatever the reason, most issues are treatable. People suffering with Depression, Bi-Polar disorder or Schizophrenia are lead a normal healthy life after a certain timeframe after taking medicines with little external support.

Unfortunately, due to various issues like stigmatization, lack of support from family and friends, due to lack of health infra-structure, this goes untreated causing a far wide consequence than previously known. When we take an example of a person named X, who is a father of 3 children and a wife, suffers with severe depression has wider consequences, not only on him but also on whole family. His direct income from the job will be lost, as a result of which the employer is unable to use his talents and the family will be pushed into poverty. This will affect the tax income of the government when a healthy working age individual is suddenly not able to work. Government will face double pressure as they should bear more costs on social benefit if there is any scheme. The social benefits should be extended to family members as well. When children are involved, their education, foods and other parts of life are directly affected. Looking at non-monetary costs, family members will face difficulties, for example the sadness it creates, the time they spend to support the person suffering with depression, and the cost of his absence for example in family vacation, shopping trips to games and household activities.

Various reports have shown that children from a family where at least a member is suffering with any disease will directly impact their mental health. Cases with a family member suffering with mental Health itself is more harmful for the children as it makes them in-official care taker in the time they could have invested doing creative things. Hence, both short and long term productivity of the one suffering and the family member will be reduced. The same thing can be extended to employees or co-workers directly depending on the person that losing a qualified worker will cost money to the companies to hire and train a new person as well as lost productivity. This is the reason why big companies are investing heavily on workers well-being. Companies like Google and Apple have wellness centers to other facilities that ensure the well-being of workers. There are costs but the costs are lower than the costs if any worker is sick and cannot participate in professional life. In addition to it, another research showed that stress for example either directly cause many disease or worsens over 80% of the diseases. So, even when somebody has totally different health issue, mental well-being can still be important.

The other aspect of mental health problem is more visible and serious one: Violence. Violence is meant by both domestic as well as public. People suffering with Stress are likely to be more violent towards family members according to another research. On the other hand, various issues like School Shooting to Terrorism has its root on mental health problem. The criminals mostly have lonely lives filled with loneliness and depression and they have feelings to cause damage. Violence cause direct losses of properties, infra-structures and cause other legal costs on the state and authorities, indirectly tax payers. The consequences is additional safety measures that is again connected with more money. Costs for security is a deadweight loss. In worst cases, it can also cost the life of other innocents who has nothing to do with this and as the consequences of the first paragraph, it will cause other chain affects.

Hence, mental health deserves attention. Worldwide policy making should follow and especially developing countries should get support. More Psychologists should be trained to support the patients. Society should get more tools to deal with people suffering with it, in school, at home, in public institutions etc. As we live in a globalized world, even a single person suffering will have consequences far strengthening than any time in the past. So, it is the time to put Mental Health on the top list of health agenda.