People who live with treatable mental disorders are reluctant to admit themselves to a psychiatric hospital because of several legitimate reasons. However, the stigmas surrounding mental healthcare are fading into history, as people are becoming more aware of the importance of mental health and stability in their daily lives as adults. Now, this process of educating people about various mental disorders are on the right track, and more people are seeking professional treatment solutions for their conditions.
In South Africa, there are several mental disorders that are running rampantly throughout our society. In some cases, people still fear ridicule and choose to stay silent about their condition. However, we implore people who suffer from such mental disorders to seek professional treatment at a psychiatric hospital. In this article, we talk about the most common treatable mental disorders in South Africa.
Most Common Treatable Mental Disorders in South Africa
- Major Depressive Disorder: Major depressive disorder, also referred to as depression, is one of the most common treatable mental disorders that people suffer from worldwide. In South Africa, especially in Gauteng, this also rings true. This disorder is characterised by feeling sad or experiencing sadness persistently, to such a level that disinterest becomes a factor. People who suffer from depression will lose interest in subjects or activities that would have usually exited them and sparked their curiosity. Moreover, people who suffer from depression can experience changes in their appetite and sleeping patterns.
Major depressive disorder can cause people to consistently feel fatigued because of a lack of proper and peaceful sleep. It can also translate into feelings of being worthless and not having any contributions to the world around them. This can escalate to thoughts of suicide or self-harm in extreme cases. According to recent studies, 26% of adults who live in South Africa show signs of depression. Fortunately, studies also show that professional treatment at a psychiatric hospital can assist people who suffer from depression to find a way to a more stable state of mind.
- Anxiety Disorders: Yet another prevalent category of treatable mental disorders, anxiety disorders are becoming increasingly more frequent among adults in South Africa. There are several factors at work here, as life as an adult in South Africa is becoming more difficult. Jobs are becoming scarcer, the economy has its own set of unique challenges, and adults are being pushed harder in their professional lives. All these elements can contribute to the development of a variety of anxiety disorders.
Moreover, with the excessively high crime rate in this country, especially in Gauteng, adults are more likely to experience or be victim to a crime. On top of this, the divorce rate shot through the roof during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. Both these elements can cause PTSD or Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – both of which are treatable at a professional psychiatric hospital. - Substance Abuse Disorders: Most adults would find a vice to calm their nerves, relax the mind, and get back to a stable mental state after having a trying and difficult day at work or at home. These vices can include smoking cigarettes, drinking alcoholic beverages, consuming specific medications, or falling into specific aggressive behavioural patterns. Although there is a big difference between substance addiction and substance abuse disorders, both come down to relying on a specific substance for that dopamine release.
Adults who live in Gauteng are frequently consuming alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, and constantly engaged in the overconsumption of specific substances – leading to the development of various substance abuse disorders. Such disorders can be linked to or caused by other mental disorders that include depression and anxiety disorders. Adult who suffer from either of these should seek professional treatment solutions at a psychiatric hospital as soon as possible. - Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is commonly linked to genetic inheritance and rears its ugly head at a later stage in life, whereas most genetically inherited mental disorders will reveal themselves during childhood. About 4% of South Africans must deal with bipolar disorder – experiencing phases of extreme emotional episodes that range from being completely depressed to a manic state of euphoria.
Beethoven Recovery Centre is your answer to a professional psychiatric hospital for people living in Gauteng. Please browse our website for details on our facility and programmes and contact us today if you have any questions about our treatment solutions.