Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality

October 8, 2021

In conjunction with #WORLDMENTALHEALTHDAY on 10 October, 2021, let’s normalise talking about the things we don’t talk about enough.

Source: World Health Organisation - World Mental Health Day — Source: World Health Organisation – World Mental Health Day

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected.

By working together as a community we can raise awareness about:

1) What to know about mental health disorders

2) What you can do for treatment; and

3) How to get help for yourself family member or friend

This is in no way exhaustive and complete but here are some quick notes to equip yourself appropriately.

What is mental health?

Mental health is an integral and essential component of our health. The WHO constitution states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

An important implication from this is mental health is a lot more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.

Mental health as defined by WHO is “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

It is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, feel, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy our lives.

On this basis, the promotion, protection and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities and societies throughout the world.

What is depression?

It is an illness characterised by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, together with difficulty carrying out daily activities.

People with depression often experience:

A loss of energy
Change in appetites
Either sleeping more or less than normal
Anxiety
Reduced concentration

What you can do if you have symptoms:

Talk to someone you trust
Seek professional help
Stay connected with family and friends
Exercise regularly
Stick to regular eating and sleeping habits
Avoid high amounts of alcohol intake

Living with someone with depression

What you can do:

Encourage them to focus on the positive, rather than negative
Encourage them to seek professional help
If theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re prescribed medication, remind them to take it
Help them with everyday tasks
Encourage them to do everyday tasks and social activities

Self-harm or suicidal behaviour

Are you experiencing any of the following?

Pain that seems overwhelming and unbearable
Feeling of worthlessness or hopelessness
Loneliness
Constant negative thoughts

What you need to know:

You can get better
You are not alone
Its okay to talk about your feelings
Talking about suicide is not a weakness

What you can do:

Talk to someone you trust about how you feel
Talk to a healthcare professional
Join a support group
Contact emergency services or a crisis help line

Know someone who may be considering suicide?

Know the warning signs:

Severe mood changes
Social withdrawal
Expressing thoughts, feelings or plans about ending their life
Saying “goodbyeÃ¢â‚¬Â to close family members and friends
Giving away valued possessions

Who is at risk?

People who have tried to take their own life before
Someone who is socially isolated
People living with chronic pain and illness
People who have experienced violence, abuse or other trauma
People from groups of society that are marginalized or discriminated against

What you can do:

Find an appropriate time and quiet place to talk to with them
Let them know you are there to talk to and give support

Encourage them to seek help from a health professional
If you think someone is in immediate danger, don’t leave them alone. Contact emergency services/ a crisis line/ a health professional/ family member
If the person your worried about lives with you, make sure they don’t have access to means of self harm