Bob Barrett reports on a local 5k raising awareness of mental illness.
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Dr Pankaj Kumar, senior psychiatrist at The Healers Psychiatry Centre in New Delhi, said, “There are many more problems that hinder proper care for mental health”.
For people suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental conditions, this week is no different from any other week.
Caminar for Mental Health works tirelessly to assist clients with mental-health conditions to recover: From Crisis to Independence.
She helps to run a weekly textiles group at Nikau House, a community mental health resource centre and volunteers with the Red Cross as a companion for the elderly at The Wood retirement home.
Two fifths (41%) of businesses are reporting a growing number of mental health problems over the past 12 months, according to the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development. “Until we get people to understand that, the stigmas is going to exist”. Providing help to the people with mental disabilities will advance the process to meet the newly-adopted target.
It is also essential that people who flock around them, should give a ray of hope and optimism.
Whyte has also spent more than 24 years volunteering in the community.
Treatment for mental health in older persons requires a multi-disciplinary approach.
“Patients can be reviewed by a psychogeriatrician, nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists as well as social workers”, Ms Fogarty explained.
The conclusion from these meetings seemed to be that we are already starting to make inroads and that the stigma around mental health does seem to be residing.
“Just like our physical health, mental health is something that affects us all and which we need to look after”.
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This Saturday will see World Mental Health Day coincide with Mental Health Week, with the campaign titled Mental Health Begins With Me working to break down the stigma of mental illness. The agency is running an awareness campaign aimed at dispelling the many myths and erroneous assumptions of the mentally ill. However, it isn’t something we should only be cognizant about for the day – it should be a constant effort.
