Understanding Mental Health Status (1) - GUARDIAN

By Passy Amaraegbu Sunday Magazine - Living Healthy Diet

INITIALLY, she tried to give him the benefit of doubts.  They were newly married and rightly too, a husband ought to protect his new and precious possession; the wife of his youth.  Ted would hardly allow Kate to interact with other males.  Meanwhile, he placed no such restriction on himself.  Kate kept studying the matter and remained within the limit of the boundary her loving (better, possessive) husband placed her.
Twelve months after the marriage, the boundary was growing thinner.  Ted required her to change her antenatal clinic, get another job, and attend another church in a far away location all because, Kate had male acquaintances in these places.  While, Kate was considering how to handle these knotty issues, she noticed that Ted had begun to cross-check her laptop to read her mails and history of events, as well as her handset for call history and text messages.  In spite of the heaviness of the pregnancy, Kate was ready for a showdown with Ted that fateful Friday evening.  She could no longer endure this form of psychological torture from her husband.
But how psychologically healthy is Ted?  Is he conscious of the great harm he is inflicting on his wife and home?  Is he out to harm Kate or is something wrong with him?  Is Ted a sufferer (victim) or an offender?
In Africa, Asia and other underdeveloped parts of the world, there is an increasing awareness towards the maintenance of physical health.  Obviously, this trend doesn’t match with the level of health consciousness in the developed Western World of Europe and America.  However, it is significantly appreciable.
Yet in the aspect of psychological or psychiatric health, Africa and Asia are dangerously lagging behind.  A major reason is the prevalent superstition and surrealism which still govern the mindset of the majority.  Also, social stigmatization of mental illness rules the psyche of our society.
For instance, in our society, a cancer patient merits our sympathy while a schizophrenic, our fear and rejection.
  Ted’s case mentioned earlier introduces us to the issue of mental health status.
What is it?  Of what relevance is it in our society?
Mental health status is the index of one’s state of psychological well-being.  On one hand it shows the absence of psychological (mental and emotional) disorders and on the other, the presence of psychological well-being.  It refers to the cognitive or mental and emotional balance of an individual at a given period.  Those with a positive mental health status are marked out by such characteristics like, ability to enjoy life, equilibrium, flexibility, resilience and also attain the enviable state of self-actualization.  Very remarkably too, such individuals are known to contribute significantly to the well being of others as well as their community or society.
• Dr. Amaraegbu, a clinical psychologist; lives in Lagos.