By Barrister Fabian Awhen
According to T. Silverston, mental illness is a condition in which the individual personality is distorted leading to disintegration in his thoughts. feelings, emotions, and behavioural changes which are not in conformity with the norms of society.
In other words, a mentally ill person is a person who is unable to control his actions, according to medical experts.
Mental disorder or lunacy is a symptom of an underlying disorder of the central nervous system
It may be a result of damage to the brain resulting in thought disturbances, uncontrolled emotions, and bizarre behaviour.
While psychologists see it as a problem of the environment. sociologists blame society for it, pointing out that mental illness is a result of frustration, arising from emotional conflict, stress, and strains of life, as well as group pressure.
However, whatever their position, suffice it to say that the disease is caused by predisposing and precipitating factors.
The predisposing factors include, hereditary and body constitution genetically inherited from parents.
On the other hand, the precipitating factors are more or less psychological, including infections (However, whichever way we look at mental illness, the fact remains that the victims are helpless people who are unable to control their actions.
In some cases, such people roam the streets and create a big nuisance in public places.
It is therefore necessary for more measures to be taken to tackle the problem of mental illness and mental disorders in our society.
But we believe that it is better to tackle mental illness through preventive measures, rather than curative measures.
Accordingly, people should refrain from drug abuse
They should avoid habits such as taking of Indian Hemp, Cocaine, and Peer-group affiliations which may precipitate mental illness.
Pregnant women should be vaccinated against measles and other diseases, likely to cause mental disorders and illness.
Parents should avoid too much scolding of their wards and should be abreast of information concerning health matters.
Furthermore, society as a whole should accommodate and rehabilitate the mentally ill, with the same understanding as they do to other patients with physical illness.
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