MENTAL
HEALTH
The sad news
that former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno was
admitted to a psychiatric
unit, made all the headlines recently.
But how it was treated by
different newspapers also made the news. The Sun newspaper’s
headline – "Bonkers Bruno" prompted
a deluge of complaints and the newspaper had to make a public climb
down after protests from readers.
In fact, the headline was
changed in later editions, to "Sad
Bruno in mental home". And since the outcry, the Sun has launched
a support fund for people with mental health problems.
So did the Sun misjudge the public mood about mental health? How
much do we understand about mental illness?
Mental health is an issue for all of us – we
are all fallible and capable of psychological unease from time
to time.
Anyone experiencing difficulties
due to a mental health problem deserves our understanding and
support, especially because at these
times they feel most vulnerable
Those in the public eye have
it particularly tough due to lack of privacy at times of difficulty
and misrepresentation of and
highly insensitive portrayal of the facts as this week shows can
happen.
Stigma still exists about
mental health issues, often
out of a mixture of ignorance and fear yet mental health problems
are common and can affect any one of us.
People in Northern Ireland
are at greater risk of mental ill health than people in England
and
Scotland (Health & Well-being
Survey DHSS 2001).
Some statistics
It is estimated that as many as 1 in 6, at any point in time suffer from a
diagnosed condition such as depression and anxiety.
Between 10-20% of our teenagers suffer from depression at some
time
The trend for self-harm and
suicide is high, especially amongst young men (150 deaths per
year and approximately 4,000 hospital
admissions due to self-harm).
Depression is particularly
prevalent – (often dubbed the ‘Common
Cold’ of psychiatry). The world Health Organisation have
estimated that by 2020 depression will be the second leading cause
of disease (after heart disease).
There is an increasing focus
on fostering positive mental health and well-being. A regional
strategy – Promoting Mental Health – Strategy
and Action Plan 2003-2008 has been developed and action is being
implemented.
Also there is currently a major review of Mental Health and Learning
Disability underway in Northern Ireland.
Special working committees are looking at issues such as:-
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Mental Health Legislation and
Policy |
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Children and Adolescents mental health |
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Learning Disability |
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Mental Health Promotion |
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Primary Care |
Limited resources are an issue.
Here is estimated that there is a shortfall in community investment
in mental health of £26
million. Mental health tends to be
the ‘Cinderella’ of
the health services.
How to tackle stigma?
Education helps – increasing people’s awareness of
mental health issues – especially given that anyone can experience
such difficulty at some time in their life
Mental Health problems can
be harder to understand than physical problems – they are in a sense invisible - People can sympathise
with a broken leg etc but find depression harder to understand
if they haven’t experienced it themselves.
There has been some work done
in schools – there could be
more – also in terms of helping young people build resilience
in coping with adversity
Mental health in the workplace has been a developing area over
the past few years
Student mental health is of
some concerns currently – high
levels of psychological problems have been identified. Isolation,
loneliness, stress of exams can all trigger problems for some.
What can help an individual?
Medication can be helpful as part of a range of treatment, but
approach should be holistic eg
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Alternative therapies such as
reflexology, aromatherapy and yoga have been found by many
to be beneficial.
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Relaxation is important, whether structured
or informal
Exercise, even moderate, has been shown to reduce tension and improve mood. |
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Creativity has been linked particularly with
good mental health.
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Being aware of one’s own emotions helps,
ie - emotional intelligence and being able to manage difficult
emotions such as anger.
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Meaningful and interesting activity is useful – interests other than work
and family alone ie hobbies etc
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Trying to have a work- home balance is useful
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Learning from experience and allowing oneself
to make mistakes is important – not being a perfectionist
having realistic standards. |
NI Association for Mental Health – Tel: 028 9032
8474
LISTENERS’ COMMENTS
A Derriaghy woman says – It is great that mental disorders
have been highlighted – even if it happens to be because
of the Frank Bruno situation. My daughter has got an eating disorder
and I think there should be more education about this in the schools.
County Down listener says – I don’t
know why people are so ignorant. I am in a psychiatric unit and
a friend I thought
I once had, has not visited or sent me a card. If I had been in
an ordinary hospital, I wonder would it have been any different.
A Coleraine man says – thank
you to Linda for the heartfelt interview with Shelagh. I just
wish more GPs would deal with issues
of depression in a better way.
An listener tells us – I am a professional person and I
can’t tell my employers that I suffer from a mental illness.
But Action and Mental Health has been a great support to me providing
training and advice.
A Belfast listener says - I suffer from a mental illness and sometimes
become disorientated and suicidal in the middle of the night and
have to ring 999. I think there should be a psychiatric nurse on
call for this sort of situation.
A listener in Upper
Ballinderry says – I can relate to what
Sheila said in regards to friends not understanding mental illness
and not visiting – I would like to wish her all the luck
in the future.
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