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Mental Health

Sadness is real

By Louii EngelbrechtPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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Mental Health
Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash

Although mental health issues have a prevalence in all social strata, they are particularly prominent in the lower, middle and upper class strata. Although there are probably people in every strata of society that have a mental health issue that is not the focus of this article, it is likely that some are. The mental health care industry is more prevalent in the upper class than in the lower strata.

Human beings, all people, need a healthy diet. There are psychological reasons for this. As we eat the wrong things, our brains work to compensate for the deficiency in nutrients that we lack. This is really interesting but somewhat misleading, since when the brain works against you, there are a number of diseases, disorders and conditions that result.

There is a significant correlation between poverty and mental illness in the lower class, which can easily be explained by the psychological condition described above. Yet, there is a great deal of money that is lavished on the middle and upper class for drugs, doctors and mental health treatment that has no benefit, on any level, on them.

Mental health issues that are present in the poor and working class, in comparison to the middle and upper class, are less likely to be addressed than in the upper class. Their problems are also not likely to be discussed in groups, as they live under the constant threat of being employed or evicted from their homes.

Perhaps, the reason that poor people have fewer mental health issues than middle class people is because they do not feel like the mentally ill. Since they do not have the anxiety, they do not associate it with the negative effects that the anxiety has on their life.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective at treating mood disorders and other types of mental illnesses in the lower class. However, in the upper strata, the same form of therapy, although more advanced, does not seem to be effective in terms of reduction in distress and stress levels.

If an individual is affected by poor, low income group living, the emotional, social and physical distress can reach a level that is almost intolerable. It can cause confusion, depression, isolation and a general sense of being abandoned by society.

Some people in the lower strata are not able to afford adequate mental health care, and are therefore dependent on medications, one of which may have a negative effect on their health. People who are affected by mental health issues are likely to be extremely distressed.

Both government and charity programs exist to provide care for those that have financial issues related to mental health issues. This can be life-saving.

A person in the lower strata may not be able to afford medicines that are medically necessary and could lead to death, so finding appropriate ways to provide care for these people can be especially important for older people, especially in the UK. They may be unlikely to seek help, but if they are able to get it, then it can mean a difference in terms of the quality of life they are able to enjoy.

In these economic times, not only can the ability to provide care for the mentally ill be beneficial but also helping the less fortunate to take care of themselves and maintain good health can be the best use of the resources available. Poor people, who are more likely to have mental health issues, also require care that is less capable and less sophisticated than that provided to the middle and upper class.

There are many organisations, charities and governmental programs that work in a variety of different areas to help people cope with their mental health issues. These can help to raise awareness and improve the conditions of those that suffer mental health issues.

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