Tembisa Hospital staff members taught about mental health
The event focused on alerting their colleagues about the dangers of mental health which they can also fall victim to.
Tembisa Hospital hosted the 2019 Mental Health Awareness Programme in the conference centre at the hospital on October 24.
The programme was themed around suicide with #LetsTalkSuicide. The four-hour occasion aimed at raising awareness for the staff members on mental health disorders which they can fall victim to as well.
The Tembisa Hospital Choir entertained the audience with songs. Dr Nicolai Du Toit then followed with the presentation about mental health.
A clinical psychologist, Willie Seerane, said the event focused on alerting their colleagues about the dangers of mental health which they can also fall victim to.
“We as a country are faced with the two most common mental disorders, which is bipolar disorder and depression,” said Seerane.
“With depression the patient is constantly low, and in most cases, isolated. With bipolar disorder their moods are always fluctuating.”
“A relative might be giving away his precious possessions. While you think he is being generous he is actually preparing for his suicide,” said Seerane.
Several stakeholders also shared their experiences with mental disorders that affected them directly or indirectly.
