Mental health. It literally makes or breaks you, and for some reason, we are always so uncomfortable talking about it.
Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, behave, and relate to others.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, but we often don’t recognise the signs and symptoms of a problem when treatments are available to help.
This article will demonstrate mental health in Us vs Europe: which is better?
What is Mental Health, and Why is It Important?
Mental health includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how you think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how you handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Your mental health can be affected by:
- Genetics
- Traumatic experiences (such as a natural disaster or violent crime)
- Medical conditions that affect the brain, such as stroke or Alzheimer’s disease
- Feeling stressed or isolated.
- Life changes such as a new school, moving or travelling
- Using drugs, including tobacco, alcohol, or prescription medications
Mental health is often a concern for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which may lead to mental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
A diagnosis of ASD means you have trouble with social interaction and communication. For example, you might find it hard to start a conversation or keep it going with others. You may also have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about your own emotions.
You may act in repetitive ways that bother other people, like tapping your fingers on a table when you’re upset. An estimated 1 in 59 children has ASD. That’s more than 1 in 50 boys and 1 in 270 girls in the United States.
How Does Mental Health Care in Europe Differ From the US?
In the US, many still consider mental illness a taboo subject. The National Institute of Health shows that nearly 1 in 5 adults experienced some form of mental illness in 2014. This number is concerning: 1 in 4 US adults is going through a severe mental illness that has the potential to impact their daily life.
But what about those who suffer from a mental illness outside of the US? If one were to look at the situation in Europe, the numbers would look very different. In Norway, for example, only 1 in 50 adults are affected by a mental illness, with Germany reporting similar numbers.
However, these numbers are not always as straightforward as they seem: In Norway, nearly 75% of these cases will recover after one year.
In contrast, those affected by a mental illness in America often face far more complex struggles that can last for several years without reaching the same level of recovery.
How does this happen? Mental health care varies widely between countries and regions throughout Europe and the Americas.
One of the first things that need to be acknowledged is that treatment options that work for one country will not necessarily work for another. In some countries, like Germany and Spain, patients are given broad leeway regarding what type of treatment they receive.
In others, like Finland and Sweden, medication is prescribed at a much higher rate, and suicide rates have increased after stricter treatment measures have been enacted.
Mental Health in Us Vs Europe
Some of you might be surprised, but a thoughtful conversation has recently been taking place online on mental health in America and Europe.
On the one hand, people worldwide are rightfully impressed with how the US has raised awareness of the importance of mental health, partly thanks to people like Prince Harry and Beyonce, who have bravely spoken of their struggles. Thanks to initiatives like the Mental Health
Awareness month, and the media’s increased focus on mental health, Americans have been more willing to seek help.
Many international students I meet often tell me how hard it is for them to get proper mental healthcare at home. Most of them ardently believe that the USA has the best mental healthcare system in the world.
Undoubtedly, it has become easier for Americans to access professional help. However, many countries are catching up fast.
Finally, the United States and Europe differ in how they approach mental health. In the US, you’re free to find a provider and seek treatment on your own, whereas in Europe, you’re typically referred to a physician who provides you with general guidance.
Do Americans Have Poorer Mental Health Than Europeans?
About 30 percent of Americans screen positive for a mental health problem annually, compared with about 20 percent of Britons, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
More than 45 million adults in the US suffer from at least one serious mental illness, and “mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the US,” according to one recent study.
A new study supports the idea that mental health conditions are more common in the US than in wealthy countries.
A report published in JAMA Psychiatry shows that in 2012, adults were significantly more likely to have mental health issues in the US than in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
The researchers surveyed more than 50,000 people in each country at least 18 years of age.
They found that about 28% of US adults reported having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, compared with 20% to 21% of adults in European countries.
How Therapy Can Help You to Improve Mental Health?
The fact that mental health is essential for us is not a surprise. Sometimes, our brain gives us a hard time, and we don’t know how to tame it.
That’s why many of us are going to therapy. But what do therapists do? If you look at the definition of therapy, it will say that it’s a treatment for mental disorders. And it includes a form of treatment where a professional tries to help people who have problems with their emotions, feelings, and behaviour by talking through their issues and working out solutions together.
Some people think medication is the only way out of a mental health problem. This is not true. Some chemical imbalances may cause mental disorders, but therapy is the best way to deal with these problems.
Many therapists and counsellors can help you cope with your problems. They focus on your mental health issues and help you build a strong relationship with them.
Most of these therapists are specialized in different fields so they can help you with anything, such as intimacy or self-esteem issues, marriage, or parenting problems.
A good therapist should provide you with practical coping strategies to handle life situations, different ways of thinking, and new perspectives on your thoughts to change your mindset and thinking patterns.
What’s more, many online sources can help you find a therapist close to the location that can address your problem and get the best results for you.
However, trying to do this alone would not help you address the root cause of your issue. Having a therapist is the best way for you to get rid of mental health problems and improve your mental health.
Book an appointment and start improving your mental health today with 20% OFF.
