THE Better Together Network (BTN) recently hosted a workshop with international guest speaker, Courtney Richards, to discuss the topic of mental health.

BTN, founded by Gail Schreiner, consists of local non-government organisations (NGO), non-profit organisations (NPO) and charities a like, as well as chairperson of BTN and spokesperson for Amanzimtoti SAPS, Charlene van der Spuy.

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“These organisations have a mandate, and often are not able to go above it, so they’ll link with another one to accomplish the goal,” said BTN secretary, Carolyn Beukes.

The organisations meet once a month to network and discuss what is happening in the community, what the biggest issues are and how they can join forces in order to be ‘better together’. They then host yearly workshops. This year they invited international guest speaker and retired psychologist, Courtney Richards.

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He was born in Jamaica, but has worked extensively in the United States of America. He addressed the topic of mental health by saying, “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. mental health is important at every stage of life.

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and illness are not the same. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness.”

He stated that mental and physical health are equally important for overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

“It is important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors. When the demands placed on a person exceed their coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted. For example, working long hours, caring for a relative, or experiencing economic hardship,” said Richards.

He added that more than 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime and that a number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as early adverse life experiences, ongoing chronic medical conditions, chemical imbalances and alcohol or drug abuse.

“Thank you to all BTN members, Liz van der Linde from The Coffee Theatre, Alta Jansen van Vuuren from J & A Creations, the leadership of House of Nations and Sweet Waters Church, for making the day a success,” said Van der Spuy.

For more information, or those interested in joining BTN, contact Charlene on 072 136 2770.

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