Tag: MENTAL HEALTH

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LEAMS schools to create awareness on mental health 

World Mental Health Day has been celebrated on October 10, since 1992. This year’s theme is to ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’…reports Asian Lite News

Schools belonging to LEAMS Education – a futuristic education group that manages four schools with 8200 students – is organizing a number of health, wellness and yoga sessions as part of the World Mental Health Day to improve mental health that is causing huge loss in productivity and draining personal wealth.

Every year October 10 is marked as World Mental Health Day – to help create global awareness on mental health that affects more than 2 billion people worldwide.

Mental disorders are on the rise in every country in the world and will cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030, according to the latest Lancet Commission report on mental health. The economic cost is primarily due to early onset of mental illness and lost productivity, with an estimated 12 billion working days lost due to mental illness every year, it said.

“Mental health is often neglected and underfunded, even though nearly 2 billion people suffer from mental illness every year,” said Dr Janice Cooper, co-author of the Lancet Commission report who leads the Carter Center’s mental health work in Liberia.

The economic case for investment in mental health is strong: for every $1 invested in scaled-up treatment for depression and anxiety, there is a $4 return in better health and productivity. The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development, called for a partnership including academic institutions, UN agencies, development banks, the private sector, and civil society organisations to mobilise, disburse, and invest funds to transform mental health, stating that ‘When it comes to mental health, all countries can be thought of as developing countries’,” the report said.

Mr Nabil Lahir, CEO of LEAMS Education says, “The overall objective of celebrating World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the students and to mobilize efforts to support every fellow human being around to have an inner peace and lead a healthy and longer life. We believe, this should start from the classroom, so that the children are prepared for a healthy life – both physically and mentally sound health.

All our schools are tuned with various international days and we take these as part of our extra-curricular activities to develop social awareness among the children. Across all our four schools, children are highlighting mental health issues with seminars, lectures, awareness campaigns, etc.”

World Mental Health Day has been celebrated on October 10, since 1992. This year’s theme is to ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’.

Following the theme, LEAMS education organises a free yoga session at Apple International School to support in uplifting the mental health of the students. A Yoga Awareness and Orientation session was conducted by Ms. Hema D Souza who is a qualified and dedicated Yoga Teacher with more than 13 years of experience and a Masters’s Degree in Yoga Science. She provides Yoga for well-being, weight loss, general fitness, rehabilitation, and relaxation.

Ms Jaya Menezes, Principal of Apple International School said that, “Mental health is a fundamental part of our overall health and well-being. As Educators, we always give our best in supporting the mental well-being of our children and also helping them to develop the social and emotional skills needed to lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life.”

There is no shortage of calamities that can wreak havoc on persons mental health and well-being. A global pandemic in its third year, protracted conflicts and wars, destructive climate events, destabilizing economic conditions, violence, discrimination, injustice, inequality. No nation is immune. That’s why this year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is “Make mental health for all a global priority.”

The Director of Leams Education, Ms.Hajera Lahir said that Schools under Leams Education have a thorough focus on the well-being of our students through a structured, detailed programme. The programme is mainly student-led, emphasising how to promote mental health among our children’s well-being, community connection, and self-care. The significant steps of the programme are “Connect; Share; Act; Reflect and Reciprocate.” Our group schools have been following custom-made activities under these five themes. Gratitude Projects, Train your puppy mind, various Clubs, Worry Box, Feeling Corners, Podcasts etc., are a few to mention. We have well-being ambassadors in our schools, and with their guidance, we conduct many enriching and enhancing activities to establish the importance of our stakeholders’ mental and physical health.

Hema D’Souza, Qualified Yoga Teacher, said, “Kids were great in the school, and they were very good. Right guidance and focus given to the kids can improve concentration and discipline within them. I would love to teach them yoga again. I wish all the very best to the kids of Apple International school for their peaceful future”

After the free yoga session arranged by LEAMS Education, the students of Apple International School stated that the yoga session was very relaxing and peaceful.

From climate anxiety to cost-of-living stress through to personal matters, the brain strain is real and needs addressing. World Mental Health Day 2022 is here to set the record straight for the one in eight people worldwide living with a mental- health issue, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Focus on emotional, psychological and social well-being defines Mental Health ,and is very much essential since it affects how we think, feel and act.

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Lite Blogs Travel

Travel therapy for mental health

Dr Wen said the varied nature of tourism meant there were many opportunities to incorporate treatments for conditions such as dementia…reports Asian Lite News

A new cross-disciplinary paper from Edith Cowan University (ECU) proposes we change the way we view tourism, seeing it not just as a recreational experience but as an industry that can provide real health benefits. The collaboration between ECU’s Centre for Precision Health and School of Business and Law found many aspects of going on holiday could have a positive impact on those with mental health issues or conditions.

Lead researcher Dr Jun Wen said the diverse team of tourism, public health and marketing experts investigated how tourism could benefit those living with dementia.

“Medical experts can recommend dementia treatments such as music therapy, exercise, cognitive stimulation, reminiscence therapy, sensory stimulation and adaptations to a patient’s mealtimes and environment,” Dr Wen said.

“These are all also often found when on holidays. “This research is among the first to conceptually discuss how these tourism experiences could potentially work as dementia-interventions.”

Holiday fun… or treatment?
Dr Wen said the varied nature of tourism meant there were many opportunities to incorporate treatments for conditions such as dementia.
For example, being in new environments and having new experiences could provide cognitive and sensory stimulation.
“Exercise has been linked to mental wellbeing and travelling often involves enhanced physical activity, such as more walking,” Dr Wen said.

“Mealtimes are often different on holiday: they’re usually more social affairs with multiple people and family-style meals have been found to positively influence dementia patients’ eating behaviour.
“And then there’s the basics like fresh air and sunshine increasing vitamin D and serotonin levels. “Everything that comes together to represent a holistic tourism experience, makes it easy to see how patients with dementia may benefit from tourism as an intervention.”

A shift in thinking

Dr Wen said COVID-19’s impact on travel in recent years had raised questions about tourism’s value beyond lifestyle and economic factors.
“Tourism has been found to boost physical and psychological wellbeing,” he said.

“So, after COVID, it’s a good time to identify tourism’s place in public health — and not just for healthy tourists, but vulnerable groups.”
Dr Wen said he hoped a new line of collaborative research could begin to examine how tourism can enhance the lives of people with various conditions. “We’re trying to do something new in bridging tourism and health science,” he said. “There will have to be more empirical research and evidence to see if tourism can become one of the medical interventions for different diseases like dementia or depression.
“So, tourism is not just about travelling and having fun; we need to rethink the role tourism plays in modern society.” (ANI)

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-Top News London News

MENTAL HEALTH AT STAKE

Health Secretary Sajid Javed urged to take immediate action as more than eight million sick days taken in past five years across health services in the UK… reports LDD Newsdesk

Health Secretary Sajid Javed is facing another Herculean task as data reveals mental health crisis at NHS trusts across the United Kingdom.

A Freedom of Information request tabled by the opposition Liberal Democrat Party has revealed that there have been at least 8.3 million mental health sick days since 2017.  The number of mental health sick days has increased every year since 2017, with some NHS Trusts seeing large increases during the pandemic years.

The data exposed the mental health crisis sweeping through staff across health services in the UK. It shows that in 2021 alone more than two million days were taken off sick by staff suffering from mental health issues – the equivalent of 6,041 years.

Liberal Democrat analysis of the data taken from 67 Hospital Trusts shows that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has been hit, with a staggering 591,254 working days lost to mental illness.

 “Years of the Conservatives taking the NHS for granted has left our health service understaffed and overworked, while the pandemic has worsened the huge pressures facing frontline staff,” said Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson. “These staggering figures show the NHS is facing a tidal wave of mental health-related absences. This must be a wake-up call to this Conservative government that they can’t turn a blind eye to this crisis any longer.

 “Sajid Javid needs to come up with a clear plan to support NHS staff, starting by fixing chronic staffing shortages and reducing unsustainable workloads. Every day that the Conservatives go on ignoring this problem will mean more NHS staff falling ill from work-related stress, and more patients going without the care they need.”

 The data also shows that both the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (Salford, Oldham, Rochdale and Bury) and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have sky high figures with 555,798 and 401,417 sick days respectively.

The Liberal Democrats who have revealed the damning statistics are calling for a host of improvements to help tackle the NHS mental health crisis.

They are calling on the Government to fix the workforce crisis in our health services by filling the 100,000 vacancies in the NHS. The health service cannot function properly when it is this understaffed, when staff are stretched so thin and working excessive hours. 

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Lite Blogs

A good partner is good for your mental health

For women in metropolitan cities in the age group of 18-30, dating apps did not make much of a difference while in tier-3 cities, the percentage rose to 56 percent…reports Asian Lite News

Whenever we talk about health, the first image that comes to our mind is of physical health: being in good shape, having a nutritious diet, exercising and sleeping between 6-8 hours each day. It is time for us to broaden this definition and also include mental health in it.

Mental health is not only as important as physical health but an unhealthy mind can lead to an unhealthy body and vice-versa. In addition to that, it is imperative that we also talk about factors that impact our mental health. Career, work-life, family and environment are all factors that we should consider and just the same, our love life. The way our society is shaped, does not leave much space to discuss the love life of an individual and its effects. Dating app – QuackQuack, in their survey to better understand the mental health of the young dating crowd reveals:

A good partner can escort you to a healthy mental life

A compatible partner not only makes you understand yourself better, but they also enrich your life by adding to it their wisdom and kindness. When you get along well with someone, you are often able to communicate and convey words without speaking. However, an incompatible partner or someone you lack communication with can also equally deteriorate your peace of mind. Not knowing where you stand in your relationship or having silly fights can put you at unease mentally. To know whether you are compatible with your partner or not, ask yourself if you feel at peace with them mentally, emotionally and even physically. Almost 40 per cent of male users in the age group of 28-38 in tier-2 cities said that they are happy with their current partner. As for female users in the same age group, the number stood at 47 percent.

Women and the impact of dating apps on their personal life

When it comes to dating, let’s accept that women do not have it easy. Societal pressure, fear of judgement and peer pressure, all together make it difficult for women to date and go out with whoever they want to. For female users who felt better once they started using the app, the number stood at a good 53 percent in the age group of 18-30 both in the tier-2 and tier-3 cities. They felt that approaching guys is not easy in Indian society and hence, provided relief and proved to be a great intermediate. Once they could chat and talk to men, it was less challenging for them to go forward with their dating life. Moreover, a happy dating life translated as a happy emotional life with peace of mind. For women in metropolitan cities in the age group of 18-30, dating apps did not make much of a difference while in tier-3 cities, the percentage rose to 56 percent.

Men on dating apps have it tougher?

For men, the competition is tough on dating apps. Not only are there more men with an imbalanced male to female ratio but they are less likely to get likes and matches than women. A huge number, 31 per cent of men in the age group of 25-40 from tier-2 and tier-3 cities said that they felt disheartened after using dating apps for reasons like not getting likes or matches, not receiving replies to their messages and also lack of compatibility.

For men in metropolitan cities, the world of dating is less harsh which means 19 percent of men in the same age group were despairing about not getting matches and also felt less ignored when it came to replies. They admitted that women did not feel restrictions while dating them and that the dating scene was completely different in small towns and cities.

A partner you get along with and who understands you brings tranquillity of mind whereas an incompatible partner can drain you. What is more, women had a positive view of their personal life after using dating apps as they had an outlet to approach and talk to men. For men, on the other hand, the world of dating proves to be a bit hard on them and they find it difficult to gather likes and matches compared to women.

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-Top News Asia News Health

New every mind matters campaign to improve people’s mental health

New campaign launched after half of all adults and almost two-thirds of South Asians in England say pandemic negatively impacted their mental health. The first campaign was launched by the Office for Health Improvement and Development (OHID) will help adults improve their mental wellbeing. The campaign backed by mental health organisations – Taraki, The Heera Foundation and Sharing Voices

South Asians are urged to find “what works for me” to support their mental wellbeing as the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)  launches the latest  Better Health – Every Mind Matters (EMM) campaign.

The campaign empowers people to look after their mental health by directing them to free, practical tips and advice. By answering five simple questions through the Every Mind Matters platform, people can get a tailored “Mind Plan”, giving them personalised tips to help deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better and feel more in control.

New research commissioned by OHID reveals nearly half (49%) of adults and almost two-thirds (59%) of South Asians in England said the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on their mental wellbeing. And more than a third of all adults in England (15.1 million) said they did not know what to do to help improve their mental wellbeing.

Pakistani and Bangladeshi adults reported struggling the most, with 60% saying their mental wellbeing was negatively impacted by the pandemic, closely followed by Indian adults at 57%. South Asian adults were also more likely to say they have experienced worry and anxiety, 59% of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and 54% of Indians, compared to 45% of the general public.

Encouragingly, South Asians were more likely to look for support and advice to help with their mental wellbeing than the general public –  74% of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, 70% of Indians compared to the general public (47%).

This is the first campaign delivered by the new Office for Health Improvements and Disparities which was launched on 1 October with the aim of tackling health inequalities across the country.

Minister for Care and Mental Health, Gillian Keegan, said:  “The public showed great resilience throughout the pandemic, but it has served as a stark reminder that we all need to look after ourselves not only physically, but mentally. There are simple steps we can all be taking to improve our mental wellbeing and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. For anyone who is unsure what they can do, I urge you to visit Every Mind Matters and take advantage of the expert advice and practical tips available to you.”

Over 3.4 million individual Mind Plans have already been created since the campaign was first launched in October 2019. 

The campaign is supported by a coalition of leading mental health charities and community organisations, including,  CALM, The Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Innovations, Taraki, The Heera Foundation and Sharing Voices. Also a range of commercial, third-sector, NHS and Local Authority partners, who will share mental health messages with their customers, members and colleagues, including Mental Health First Aid, Carers organisations and more. 

Dr-Chirag-Gorasia

Dr. Chirag Gorasia (Clinical Psychologist), says: “The mental health of the South Asian community  has been hard hit by the pandemic, but thankfully there are some simple steps we can all take to improve our mental health. Whether it’s hobbies like, going on walks, reading, gardening or practicing mindfulness and yoga, there are simple, low-cost tools out there to get you through challenging times. A great first step is to answer the five quick questions to generate your Mind Plan on the Every Mind Matters site.”

Pavandeep Johal

Pavandeep Johal, The Heera Foundation, an organisation that provides support to people with mental health issues in the community, says: “It’s very encouraging to see that South Asians are more likely to seek support and advice to help with their mental wellbeing given that we know that cultural and religious beliefs can sometimes  make it challenging for some members of the community to seek help.

“The reality is that with the pandemic we have all experienced some form of stress, anxiety or a low mood at some point so it’s so important that we continue to signpost people to the support available and help people find ways to manage their mental wellbeing.”

Better Health – Every Mind Matters offers information and videos to help young people look after their own mental wellbeing, and will be promoting them through social media channels and in schools. The Every Mind Matters website also provides dedicated support to help parents and guardians look after the mental wellbeing of the children and young people they care for.

Search Every Mind Matters to see what works for you.   

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-Top News COVID-19

WHO to address mental health gaps in Europe

Dr Hans Kluge, Regional Director, WHO Europe, said: “People in the European region are quite literally breaking down under the strain of COVID-19 and its consequences….reports Asian Lite News.

Senior health officials from the WHO’s European Region on Wednesday conveyed their commitment to addressing the mental health crisis that has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the region.

A WHO release said the mental health impacts of the pandemic will be long-term and far-reaching. “From anxieties around virus transmission, the psychological impact of lockdowns and self-isolation, to the effects of unemployment, financial worries and social exclusion, to in-person access to care, everyone is affected in one way or another.”

“It is not just the infection, or worry about getting infected, that has affected people’s mental health. The stress brought about by socio-economic inequalities and the impacts of quarantine, lockdown and school/work closure have also had a huge impact,” it added.

WHO further said people with pre-existing mental health conditions are disproportionately likely to contract COVID-19 infection, but the pandemic and its effects have also exacerbated their mental health conditions.

Dr Hans Kluge, Regional Director, WHO Europe, said: “People in the European region are quite literally breaking down under the strain of COVID-19 and its consequences. The pandemic has shaken the world. More than 4 million lives were lost globally, livelihoods ruined, families and communities forced apart, businesses bankrupted, and people deprived of opportunities. These consequences of the pandemic have exacted an enormous toll on the mental health and well-being of people in the European region.”

“Yet the pandemic, which has been devastating in so many ways, provides an opportunity for countries to re-think and re-form their mental health services. It is an opportunity no country can afford to waste if we are to build back better and stronger.”

Stressing that mental health and wellbeing should be seen as fundamental human rights, WTO said improving public mental health services is a win-win for everyone. “It won’t just mitigate the mental health impacts of COVID-19, but support the sustainable improvement of overall mental health, result in economic savings which thereby also promotes economic recovery, and support the achievement of wide-ranging policy objectives including achieving universal health coverage by 2030.”

Dr Vasileios Kikilias, Minister of Health, Hellenic Republic, said: “There is no question that the pandemic has impacted the mental health of people of all ages, particularly teenagers, young people and children.” “Scientists, specialists, WHO, together with the Member States, need to devise and implement policies that will assist our fellow human beings who are in need.”

Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission for Promoting our European Way of Life, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already existing huge mental health challenge that is increasingly getting more complex and diversified. There is no excuse for delays and complacency in our answers to the immediate and longer-term consequences of this health, social and economic crisis. Our response will be holistic and above all anthropocentric. Together with WHO we are joining forces to build a solid Mental Health Coalition in order to address and mitigate the mental health impact of the pandemic.”

38-year-old Katerina, who is a recipient of mental health care in Greece, has been receiving treatment for a psychiatric disorder since 2002 and had been coping well with a mixture of therapy and support groups. But when the pandemic hit, her life was turned upside down.

Katerina said: “During the pandemic, my daily life changed abruptly. I had to comply with the general instructions observing all personal protection measures. Unfortunately, the pressure of social isolation led to increased anxiety, reviving my past experiences. On top of this, the interruption of my in-person support groups led me to agree with my psychiatrist to increase my treatment. At the same time, all visits to my father were cancelled for his own safety, even though he has been my carer for many years. I call on leaders to listen to the voices of those with mental health problems, so our views can inform decision-making at all levels.”

At the request of the WHO Regional Director for Europe, a technical advisory group (TAG) was established in February 2021 to provide advice and guidance to Member States of the WHO European Region and other interested parties on the key mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to suggest critical actions to be taken by national authorities in response.

People wearing masks walk on the Trocadero Place near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France (Xinhua/Gao Jing/IANS)

The recommendations for the member states include improving access to culturally adapted mental health services through digital and other means; helping people improve resilience; providing occupational and/or financial support to those unable to work, and promoting psychological support initiatives in the workplace.

Other suggestions include addressing the social determinants of mental health, like poverty and unemployment; monitoring changes in mental health at the community level and provide more community support for adolescents and young adults. (ANI)

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