Local support for World Mental Health Day

They spoke on Saturday in Akure at the commemoration of the 2015 World Mental Health Day with the theme: “Dignity in Mental Health”.

I have long championed mental health issues and I want to encourage people to speak openly about their condition.

Researchers say there is still a need to improve mental health literacy through better planned anti-stigma campaigns. It has “the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health”, according to the World Health Organization. “Solutions may not be simple, but we recognize the life-changing impact these supports can have on thousands of British Columbian families”, said Minister of Health Terry Lake.

More community and wellness centres – in each community, opening at later hours and staffed with enough psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and mental health officers were needed to address the rising levels of mental illness in TT.

While there are multiple number of mental illnesses, the most common anyone can relate to is depression. Pharmacists and other health care professionals are not free from these misconceptions, and this could potentially have a detrimental effect on their patients’ health, Dr. Goldstone added. In Tirupur, Vazhikatti Mental Health Foundation launched “Sumaithangi”, suicide prevention helpline. People suffer and live with mental illness and it is not because of their fault or weakness, curse on them by someone else or due to past karma but because they are simply human beings just as the rest of the people who suffer from any other physical illness.

Unfortunately, half of all mental health disorders that affect adults start by age 14. How important is it for the medical fraternity as a single unit to promote mental health awareness? In India, especially, people are ugly of the fact that they are jostling with such problems, thanks to the popular view that society looks down upon those who are grappling with one.

The organisers regretted the societal mind-set which refuses to accord same respect and dignity to people, earlier afflicted with mental health issues, despite having emerged healthy and functional in society later on. Dignity in mental health means steps are taken to safeguard the well-being of people with mental health conditions, thus liberating them from the shackles of self-stigma, low confidence, low self-esteem, withdrawal and social isolation.

World Mental Health day marks the sufferings of the victims of mental disorders.

Yet there are only twelve beds for treatment of mental illness in South Sudan and many of those with serious mental illness or disability are instead sent to prison where they are shackled and locked away for years on end.

Given the magnitude of the problem, research on mental health in Bangladesh is unsatisfactory.

For many people in India “mental illness” is represented by the homeless man with severe mental illness living on the street, scavenging in the garbage bins, mumbling to himself, etc, and hence the loose interpretation of the lay term “mad”. Samaritans offer support for anyone in emotional distress as well as anyone considering ending their life.

The LGBTQ community also has a higher incidence of reporting negative experiences when accessing primary care services.