During my conversation with Sarah, I asked her, "Are you of the opinion that everyone is not okay?"

Sarah said, "In the health line, health is measured on a continuum, in which the higher score of being 'okay' is based on a scale that considers one's physical, mental, social, spiritual, and emotional balance. For one to be perfectly healthy, they have to pass through all these stages. But the truth is, at some point in time, everyone has gone through a stage in their life where they've had a mental shift. Everyone has had moments where they've withdrawn from the society. Today, you might have a complete mental balance, but tomorrow, there might be a deviation from another side. 'Perfectly healthy' is a long word and a routine..."

Your mental health is your utmost priority; guard it well, why? Because everything stems from your mental health. What happens if it's messed up? It's not until you are diagnosed with a mental condition that you realise mental health fitness is not a joke.

The purpose of this blog is to let you know that mental struggles are not only for certain people. I had an interesting conversation with Sarah, my nursing friend. From her clinical experience, she made it known that things like heartbreak, emotional imbalance, past trauma like rape, and lifestyle habits like the use of hard substances and alcoholism can make or precipitate someone to break down and develop mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, etc.

If you have read till this point, you should read till the end.

Sarah made me realise a lot through the conversations we had. Shall we go into some of the questions I asked her?

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Q: What is mental illness?

Sarah: Mental illness is the inability of a person to adjust and cope with their environment. It can take the form of stress or emotional breakdowns. It is an inability to function well and connect with the society. When you are having a breakdown, there is a gap between you and your environment.

Q: What are some of the things that can lead to mental illness?

Sarah: Not paying attention to emotional pain, such as heartbreak, can put mental health in jeopardy. There was a situation where an individual developed schizophrenia. *Schizophrenia* is a chronic mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterized by episodes of psychosis, which can include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there), delusions (false beliefs), disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning. This person's condition was triggered by heartbreak.

Substance abuse can also lead to mental illness. It doesn't just happen overnight. One example is an individual who had become dependent on cannabis to the point that eating without it became impossible. Addiction is dangerous, and recovery is not easy.

Depression is a form of mental illness. There was an instance where a person's body had to be stimulated to respond because the ability to feel had been lost. There was no appetite to eat, drink, or do anything.

Q: What is the nature of the people in the psychiatric hospital?

Sarah: People have some sort of prejudice about psychiatric hospitals. They assume everyone there is "mad," which is inappropriate. There are also minimal conditions treated in psychiatric hospitals, such as heartbreak, work stress, OCD, personality disorders, and mental imbalance. Postpartum depression is also treated. These are women who, after childbirth, experience hormonal changes and mental imbalances. They are treated and eventually get discharged. Of course, there are severe cases of people who had to be isolated.

Q: Can people recover from mental illness?

Sarah: Yes, people can fully recover from minor mental illnesses. Major cases can also recover, but they may have to use their medication for life. If they stop, they can relapse.

Q: Can mental illness be genetic?

Sarah: Yes, mental illness can be genetic. You may not know this since you didn't do biology. There is a genetic table, it can either be recessive or dominant. If it is dominant, it can start exhibiting from childhood. If they are in a good environment, it may not act in them until something prompts it. For some people, it would manifest regardless of the environment. It can be triggered through drugs, environmental factors, and a lot of things. Mostly, it manifests from the age of 18 and it can be dormant till 30 years. Aside from genetics,even words can trigger mental illness and start to make it manifest.

Q: What are the signs that someone needs mental help?

Sarah: Depressive mood, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real), emotional breakdowns, addictions, abnormal behaviour, denial (most mentally ill patients don't believe they are ill).

Q:What is your advice for anyone suffering from drug addiction?

Sarah: It's rare for someone to quit addiction on their own. There's always a tendency to relapse. Therefore, they need help. If the addiction isn't too severe, having an accountability partner can help. But in serious cases, they need isolation from the substance and professional treatment for withdrawal symptoms.

Q: What about depression?

Sarah: They can seek help from professionals.

Q: What is your general advice for maintaining a good mental health practice?

Sarah: Try hard to maintain a positive environment. If you notice a toxic situation, leave. Love yourself. Practice the act of self-love. If you are suffering from trauma, seek mental therapy. Also, therapy isn't only for mentally ill people; it's for anyone who wants to maintain good mental health.

Mental illness can happen in various forms, sometimes in ways we might not immediately recognise. From everything she had shared, it is important to note that no one is completely immune to mental struggles. Never ignore it whenever you feel like something isn't right with you. If you are finding it hard to maintain a good mental health practice, don't struggle alone. Seek the help that you need, and by doing so, you'll put yourself first and help yourself heal.

Prioritize your mental health today.