Witrand encourages you to take care of your mental health

At every age, mental health is important, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, which is largely influenced by how we think about life.

In spite of this, people in communities struggle and are most often unable to get help if they have a loved one who is mentally ill and aggressive or needs help to cope with depression and anxiety. The truth is only a quarter of people get the help they need.

Witrand Hospital recently celebrated world mental health day on the 10th of October 2022, with moving presentations from psychologists, social workers and spiritual upliftment by Pastor Palo Motsi.

This mental health month JB Marks Sub-District School health will from 13th – 18th of October 2022 visits the following schools: Ditaelong, Dan Tloome , Tshupane, Keotsepile and Madibeng School. The programme includes mental health awareness, Grade7s learners screening, and clinic visitors screening.

“The aim is to do away with the stigma associated with mental health in our communities and educate our society to be self-reliant,” Nico Masiu, Witrand spokesperson explained.
Drug and substance abuse are the most common mental health conditions in our community. The struggle is access, and the need to do away with the stigma associated with mental health. Specifically, to deal with the proliferation of illicit drugs in our communities.

Other very serious mental sickness problems include Bipolar Disorder, which is a mental illness that causes extreme changes in moods, energy, and activity levels. These changes are different from and more severe than the normal ups and downs most people experience from time to time.
The “ups” are called manic or hypomanic episodes, while the “downs” are called depressive episodes. Delusions of hallucinations symptoms may appear during a manic or a depressive episode.

Depression manifests at times as a feeling sad most of the day, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex, Changes in sleeping, eating or other habits, Fatigue, loss of energy, Feelings of worthlessness, Poor concentration, and indecisiveness, Thoughts of death or suicide.

It is now a norm to see people with mental problems loitering in the street and eating from the dustbin. Some families are in pain, to see some of their family members in these conditions. Yet, they do not know how best to help them.
Some of these people with mental problems get temporarily admitted to acute hospitals for treatment, and before you can know it, they are back in the community and worsened as there is no family support or families do not know what to do because they are told of the long waiting list to be admitted for rehabilitation or complete mental health treatment where the area.

“In our communities, we need a mental health system and family support system that will create positive relationships and the ability to adapt and act appropriately in social situations,” Masiu said.
Psychosocial treatments are necessary for mental health patients to cope with their illnesses on a daily basis. Education for the whole family should be provided on how to cope with the illness and help their loved ones.