Help is available at local clinics
MIDRAND – Psychiatrist, Dr. Vuyani Nxumalo said that help was not as costly as many assumed and that one could go to their nearest clinic for help with mental issues.
In celebration of October, Mental Health Awareness Month, the Midrand Reporter spoke with local psychiatrist Dr Vuyani Nxumalo, to help us broaden our knowledge on the subject of mental health.
He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, a Diploma in Mental Health, a Fellowship of the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa and a Masters in Medicine Psychiatry.
Nxumalo explained that mental health is the state of mind where someone is able to decide or make decisions in a stable mind and do things that will positively affect their lives.
He said mental illness trigger signs are not always obvious, however, sometimes mental illness is triggered by genetics, substances, loss of a loved one, divorce, and other triggers.
“You can find that someone could have a condition that is mild, moderate or severe. The type or name of the condition can also determine the type of life they will lead if ever they are diagnosed.
“For instance, if a person becomes depressed because they have lost a job, if it gets to a point where they want to kill themselves, they can get admitted and get therapy and treatment.
“After being discharged and they get employed, the person will improve because their stressors have been removed.”
He added that in certain cases such as schizophrenia – when one sees or hears things other people cannot see or hear – one might find that due to the nature and the condition being chronic, cognitively, in terms of making decisions, the person’s functioning could gradually decline.
The person might not go back to their previous functioning level because of the severity of the condition, therefore, they would have to be monitored and given treatment. However, with support from their family included, they could go back to leading a normal life.
He concluded that, with treatment, it was possible to live a life most call normal, adding that help was not always costly. People can visit their local clinic for advice and be referred for help at public institutions that deal with mental illnesses.
Related Article:
