Mental illnesses are more common than one expects. It is estimated that 1 out of every 5 persons will have some mental illness in their lifetime. It is sad that people with mental illness do not get the attention they deserve, either because of unawareness about the illnesses or because of ignorance that treatment for mental illnesses is available. Contrary to the lay belief that mental illnesses are caused by evil powers or because of some external attribution (loss of a loved one, loss of job, etc etc), medical science has enough evidence to prove that mental illnesses happen because of chemical imbalance in the brain circuitry. Yes, stress certainly makes an individual more prone to develop a mental illness, but it is not the causal factor. Furthermore, most of the times, mental illnesses run in the families because of their genetic predisposition.
The good news is that mental illnesses are treatable. There are effective medications available for all the mental illnesses. Sometimes, it takes long to treat these illnesses but the quality of life is surely enhanced with the right therapy. The bottom line for all caregivers is – Please see a psychiatrist at the earliest possible, get your ward evaluated and sign up for the right therapy for them. It will not only improve the patient’s condition, but also reduce the stress of the entire family. At TPC, we ensure that not only the patient is treated but the entire family gets psychoeducated about how to manage the patient at home and how to deliver the best therapy at home.