Why Understanding Mental Disorders Is Necessary

Introduction

"You seem to be talking normally, so aren't you okay?"

"Isn't it better to push yourself a little rather than just resting?"

"You were able to do it yesterday, so why can't you do it today?"

I believe many people feel this way when interacting with individuals who have mental disorders.

Mental disorders are conditions where the difficulties are hard to see from the outside.

Even if someone looks like they are doing fine at work or school, they may be so exhausted that they cannot do anything once they get home.

Even if they are smiling and talking, they may be battling intense anxiety inside.

Things that were possible yesterday may become difficult today due to fluctuations in their physical or mental condition.

Without knowing about such states, those around them may misunderstand, thinking they are "lazy," "moody," or "not trying hard enough."

However, the need for understanding mental disorders is not just about being kind to the individuals affected.

It is to make it easier for them to receive necessary support.

It is so that families do not have to carry the burden alone.

It is to make it easier for them to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace.

It is to make it easier for them to continue their education at school.

It is to live in the community without becoming isolated.

And it is to create a society where everyone can easily ask for help when they are experiencing physical or mental distress.

In this article, we will consider why understanding mental disorders is necessary from the perspectives of the individuals themselves, their families, supporters, workplaces, schools, and the local community.

What Is Understanding Mental Disorders?

When we talk about understanding mental disorders, you might think it means memorizing disease names and symptoms in detail.

Of course, having correct knowledge about depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adjustment disorder, social anxiety disorder, addiction, etc., is important.

However, you do not need to memorize every disease name or symptom to support someone.

The understanding that is truly necessary is not to judge a person solely by their diagnosis.

Even with the same diagnosis, the difficulties each person faces are different.

Some people experience severe distress in the morning, while others feel more exhausted in the evening.

Some find conversation burdensome, while others feel intense anxiety when they are alone.

Some can concentrate in a quiet place, while others lose their composure in places with noise or many people.

Understanding does not mean classifying people as "this kind of person because of this illness."
It means trying to learn what that person is struggling with, what kind of environment makes them feel safe, and what they value in their life.

Understanding Is Necessary Because It Cannot Be Seen from the Outside

The difficulties associated with mental disorders are often invisible.

For example, someone who greets others as usual at work may be carrying immense tension just from commuting.

A student attending class at school may be using up all their physical and mental energy just by being in the classroom.

Someone who managed to go shopping might be unable to move for days afterward due to exhaustion.

What those around them see is only a part of that person's life.

Just because they looked normal for a short time does not mean they can spend the whole day without problems.

Conversely, just because they couldn't do anything on a bad day does not mean that person lacks ability.

Without an understanding of mental disorders, people are judged only by the one scene that is visible.

"They look fine, so they don't need any accommodations."

"They can talk, so they should be able to work."

"They were able to come to school, so they should be able to attend all classes."

Such judgments can cause the person to push themselves too hard.

Considering that there may be invisible burdens is the first step toward understanding.

Misunderstandings Can Delay Consultation and Medical Treatment

If there is prejudice or misunderstanding about mental disorders, the person is more likely to hide their distress.

"I don't want to be thought of as weak."

"I might be removed from my job."

"I might be looked at differently at school."

"I might be a burden to my family."

"I don't want people to know I'm seeing a psychiatrist."

Because of such anxieties, some people endure until they reach their limit.

If they could consult at an early stage, it could lead to rest, treatment, welfare services, or adjustments at work or school.

However, in an environment where asking for help is considered shameful, the person is more likely to suffer alone.

A society with understanding is not a society where everyone must disclose their diagnosis.

It is a society where the person can choose the extent to which they want to talk.

It is a society where they can consult without being denied when they are in trouble.

It is a society where they are unlikely to suffer disadvantages even if they seek necessary support.

It is a society with that kind of security.

Understanding Is Necessary So As Not to Blame the Individual

Due to mental disorders, things that were previously possible may become difficult.

Cannot wake up in the morning.

Cannot reply to messages.

Cannot do housework.

Cannot meet people.
Cannot go to work or school.

Cannot stop checking things.

Difficult to stop behaviors like relying on alcohol or gambling.

When looking at these states only by the behavior, some may think, "They could change if they tried."

However, the person themselves may be suffering because they cannot do these things and may be blaming themselves.

If they are then blamed by those around them, they lose confidence and find it even harder to consult.

Understanding does not mean accepting all behaviors as they are.

If there are problems in daily life, it is necessary to think about how to deal with them together with the person.

However, it is important not to blame them by asking "Why can't you do it?" but rather to think about "What is making it difficult?" and "What kind of support would make it easier to tackle?"

So That Families Do Not Have to Bear the Support Alone

Families sometimes support people with mental disorders for long periods.

Accompanying them to hospital visits.

Being concerned about their daily rhythm.

Listening to their anxious stories.

Supporting them with money and procedures.

Watching over them to ensure their condition does not worsen.

If only the family continues to bear such support, the family members themselves will become exhausted.

Without understanding from those around them, people may think, "It's natural for family to support them," and the family's pain is overlooked.

Before being supporters, family members are individuals living their own lives.

They also need time to rest.

They also need someone to consult with.

Just like support for the individual, support for the family is also necessary.

By connecting with family associations, consultation support, visiting nursing, medical institutions, local consultation counters, and welfare services, it becomes easier to prevent the burden from concentrating only on the family.

Spreading understanding leads not only to supporting the individual but also to preventing the isolation of the family.

To Make It Easier to Demonstrate Abilities in the Workplace

Among people with mental disorders, there are many who are working or who want to work.

However, if there is a lack of understanding in the workplace, difficulties in working arise from areas unrelated to the person's actual abilities.

For example, sudden schedule changes continue.

They do not know the priority of tasks.

There is no designated person to consult with.

There is no quiet place to rest.

It is difficult to secure time for hospital visits.

When they communicate changes in their physical condition, they stop being entrusted with work.

In such an environment, anxiety and fatigue can become intense.
On the other hand, some people find it easier to work through adjustments such as clarifying work content, giving instructions one by one, adjusting working hours and workload, designating a consultation person, and preparing a place where it is easy to take a break.

This does not mean they do not have to do their work.

It is an environmental adjustment to make it easier for the person to demonstrate the strengths they possess.

Reasonable accommodation refers to necessary adjustments made according to the individual's situation to reduce the barriers in society caused by the disability.

In a workplace with an understanding of mental disorders, it becomes easier to think about how to work while discussing with the person, rather than judging their potential solely by their diagnosis.

To Protect Opportunities to Learn at School

Mental disorders and mental distress also affect school life.

It is difficult to enter the classroom.

Intense anxiety arises when presenting in front of people.

Cannot commute by train or bus.

Cannot check assignments repeatedly and submit them.

Cannot concentrate due to feeling down.

Just being in a group is exhausting.

When such states exist, without understanding, they may be seen as "slacking off," "lacking motivation," or "lacking cooperativeness."

However, it may not be that the person does not want to learn, but that it is difficult to learn through the established method of participation.

Adjusting school arrival times.

Learning in a separate room or online.

Consulting on the amount of assignments and submission deadlines.

Changing the presentation method.

Using the infirmary or counseling room.

Deciding on teachers or staff they can talk to with peace of mind.

If such options exist, some people can continue their learning.

Understanding does not mean requiring the same thing from everyone.

It means thinking together about how to participate so that the person can get closer to their learning goals.

So That Supporters Do Not Lose Sight of the Individual's Wishes

Supporters, out of concern for the individual, sometimes prioritize safety and stability too much.

"It is better not to push yourself."

"It is better not to work right now."

"Living alone is difficult."

"The individual cannot decide for themselves."

Of course, there are situations where judgments to ensure safety are necessary depending on the state.

However, if supporters decide everything, it can become impossible to see what the individual actually wants.

Understanding mental disorders also includes respecting the individual's wishes and choices.

I want to work.

I want to learn.

I want to live alone.

I want to adjust the distance with my family.

I want to resume my hobbies.

I want to participate in local activities.
It is important not to deny these wishes solely based on the diagnosis.

Rather than supporters deciding whether it is possible or impossible on their own, they are required to think together about what kind of support would make it closer to reality.

To Avoid Isolation in the Community

For people with mental disorders to live in the community, it is important not only to have medical and welfare services but also to be accepted in daily life.

Greeting neighbors.

Shopping at stores.

Using public transportation.

Participating in local activities.

Using libraries and community centers.

In such ordinary life, if there is prejudice or rejection, the person may start to avoid going out or interacting with people.

It is not appropriate to label someone as a dangerous person or someone difficult to interact with just because they have a mental disorder.

On the other hand, there is no need to force them to talk about their symptoms or difficulties.

What is needed is to help them while checking their wishes when they are in trouble, without treating them too specially.

Having places to consult, places to spend time with peace of mind, places to work, places to learn, and opportunities to connect with people within the community leads to stability in life.

How You Choose Your Words Affects Peace of Mind

Understanding of mental disorders is also reflected in everyday language.

"You're worrying too much."

"You should just change your way of thinking."

"Everyone has it tough."

"How long are you going to rest?"

"You look normal, though."

Such words can corner the person even without malice.

Instead, there are words like the following:

"What are you most troubled by right now?"

"Is there anything I can do?"

"It's okay to talk only about what you want to."

"Let's think together about ways to rest and where to consult."

"If the same method as before is difficult, let's look for another way."

What is important is not to memorize the correct words.

It is to listen to the person's story without making assumptions.

It is not to try to come up with an answer immediately.

It is to confirm the support the person desires.

Being understanding does not mean knowing everything.

It means being able to ask the person carefully when you don't know.

Understanding Is Not Only for the Individuals Affected

The spread of understanding about mental disorders is not only for the benefit of the individuals affected.

Anyone can experience mental distress due to work, school, family, human relationships, illness, caregiving, disasters, unemployment, etc.
People who are currently on the supporting side may need support in the future.

If there is an atmosphere in the workplace where it is easy to consult, even people without a diagnosis of a mental disorder can rest earlier.

If there are diverse ways to participate in school, children with various circumstances will find it easier to learn.

If there is a system that does not force only the family to bear the support, it will also become easier for people who are caregiving or raising children to live.

Understanding mental disorders does not mean treating only specific people specially.

Being able to rest when you are feeling unwell.

Being able to consult when you are in trouble.

Being able to think about methods that suit each individual.

Not judging a person's value only by their failures or poor condition.

It is about building the foundation of such a society.

Summary

The reason understanding mental disorders is necessary is not to sympathize with the individuals affected.

It is to know about the difficulties that are hard to see and to connect them to necessary support and environmental adjustments.

Mental disorders are hard to see from the outside, and there are large individual differences in symptoms and their impact on life.

Things that were possible yesterday may be difficult today.

Some people can be active for a short time but need a long rest afterward.

Even if the diagnosis is the same, the necessary support is different for each person.

If understanding is lacking, the person may be misunderstood as being lazy, not trying hard enough, or being difficult to interact with.

As a result, consultation or medical visits may be delayed, they may push themselves too hard at work or school, or they may become isolated in the community.

Families also bear the burden if there is no support from those around them.

In the workplace and school, it is important not to judge ability solely by the diagnosis, but to adjust how to work or learn while discussing with the individual.

Supporters are required to have a perspective that respects not only the individual's safety but also their wishes and choices.

The community needs relationships where people are not kept at a distance because of illness, and where they can support each other when necessary.

Understanding does not mean being able to explain every illness perfectly.

It means not making assumptions.

It means listening to the person's story.

It means asking carefully about things you don't know.

It means thinking together about methods that suit that person.

Even with a mental disorder, if there is support and an environment that suits them, there are people who are working, learning, and living within their families and communities.

The form and speed of recovery are different for each person.

Acknowledging those differences and creating a society where people can connect to support when they are in trouble is the meaning of spreading understanding of mental disorders.
A society where people with mental disorders can live with peace of mind is also a society where everyone can easily ask for help without hiding their distress.

Not looking at each individual only by their diagnosis, but looking at that person's life and hopes.

The accumulation of that leads to a symbiotic society where everyone can live together.

Next time, I will explain "The real reason why you cannot wake up in the morning."