By Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri
The attention to mental health has increased significantly over the years.

Things appear to have taken a turn with the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic which put mental health on centre stage. While celebrities, athletes and everyday people brazenly share their mental health struggles and victories, real progress appears far off.

Beyond the definition of mental health terms, using mental health buzzwords, or being in therapy just because it appears “fancy” and in “vogue,” mental health literacy involves learning about mental health disorders to dispel ignorance, stigma, and discrimination.

It includes being able to identify signs of emotional distress, knowing to respond with empathy in place of judgement as well as knowing where to seek help and support.

Mental health literacy is particularly important as the symptoms of mental illnesses are often silent, difficult to recognise or misinterpreted. A child who sleeps poorly, experiences nightmares, and isolates self after the parent’s divorce, may be dismissed as ‘moody,’ whereas, the child may be experiencing anxiety.

A man who abuses alcohol, refuses to interact with others and attempts suicide after a job loss may be described as ‘reacting poorl’ while he may actually be depressed.

Some barriers to improving mental health literacy include ignorance, discrimination and stigma. These factors, alongside some of our cultural and religious beliefs about mental health, lead to increasing silence, shame, and secrecy, which further drives the negative narratives about mental health disorders.

Some signs of mental health issues include changes in, or a deviation from, what is considered usual in mood, behaviour, appearance, appetite and sleep.

Other factors include persistent irritability or anxiety, loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, social isolation and withdrawal, as well as thoughts of self-harm or suicide
The 4 L’s can assist in our mental health literacy as we:

• Learn about mental health and its disorders to become aware and challenge stigma.
• Listen to yourself and others in a kind, compassionate and non-judgmental way.
• Look out for symptoms of mental health issues in yourself and others
  and
• Link people with professional sources of support.
  Some signs of mental health issues include changes in or a deviation from what is considered usual in mood, behaviour, appearance, appetite and sleep.
  Remember, there is no health without mental health.