Wellness Promotion: A Focus on MENTAL Health

Dr S M Chirisa MBchB (UZ), DMH (UZ) M.MedPsych (UZ)

Walking with you to a brighter future.

Definitions

As defined by World Health Organization (WHO):

• Health is a state of complete physical, MENTAL and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

• Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

Wellness

• The quality or state of being healthy in body and MIND, especially as the result of deliberate effort.

• Making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

Wellness Programs and Mental Health

• Mental health = Physical health

• Today’s wellness programs focus on helping people improve physical health

• Often missing mental health and emotional wellness

Mental health deserves equal attention especially when considering the COSTS associated with poor mental and emotional health

Mental Wellness

Poor mental health and stressors contribute to:

• Physical illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, heart disease, back pain, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances or various minor illnesses through somatization.

• Psychological effects such as anxiety and depression, loss of concentration and poor decision making.

• Burn-out amongst employees, seriously affecting their ability to contribute meaningfully in both their personal and professional lives.

Substance Use Disorders

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247 million people used drugs in the past year

29 million suffer from drug use disorders

but only 1 in 6 people with drug use disorders is in treatment.

(World Drug Report 2016, PP x)

Substance Dependence Disorders

• Intoxication

• Physical dependence

• Psychological dependence

Common Mental Disorders

Crisis Management:

Suicide / para-suicide

Hysteria

Psychosomatic conversion

Family disputes

Depression

Bipolar Affective Disorder

Anxiety

Panic Attacks

Schizophrenia

Obesity

Anorexia/Bulimia Nervosa

Child Assessments:

IQ Tests (WISC V, JSAIS, ISGSA) - Intellectual disability

Developmental tests (Griffiths, school readiness)

Attention (Conner's, Tea-ch)

Adaptive functioning (Vineland's II)

Autism (ADOS ).

Specific learning disorders (dyslexia, dyscalculia)

Visual – Motor integration (Beery)

Postpartum Depression

Insomnia

Dementia

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Paedophilia

ADHD/ADD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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Causes of Mental Health Disorders

Socio-political factors:

Socioeconomic disadvantage

War and conflict

Stress

Resilience.

Biological factors:

Physical disorders Genetic factors Changes in brain structure,

neuropharmacology and functional imaging.

In-utero birth problems Infection (e.g. Syphilis, HIV) Post myocardial infarction Endocrine disturbance Cerebro-vascular Latrogenic factors

Social factors:

Cultural factors

Religion

Families

Neighbourhoods and housing

Work and school

Life events that are not a normal expected part of life

Environmental factors.

Psychological factors:

Personality types

Attachment

Self-esteem

Intelligent quotient (IQ)

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Management of Mental Health Disorders

Rehabilitation models:

• Traditional Inpatient Treatment

• Medical Detox

• Private Admissions

• 12-Steps Fellowships AA

Management of Mental Health Disorders

• High Staff morale and engagement

• Productivity and profits in the workplace

• Interpersonal relationships among employees

• Skills and experience retention

• Reduce staff turnover

• Absenteeism

• Poor performance and accidents due to human error

• Healthcare costs

A mentally healthy :

Challenges Being Faced

Doctors, both specialists and GPs are missing psychiatric problems

Lack of support:

• to patients,

• to existing mental health facilities

• stigma

• lack of access to help.

Funding

• under of funding

• negative attitude by funders towards mental health compared to physical illness.

Lack of access to needed medication

Lack of prevention/wellness programs of mental illness

Limited mental healthcare facilities at good standards.

What Can We Do?

• MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS drives to increase awareness and reduce stigmatization

• Identification of mental health illnesses and refer to trained practitioners

• More positive attitude towards mental health by medical aid funders and better benefits to clients.

• Employers focus on mental health by ensuring that employees have access to mental health benefits, awareness and intervention programs.

Community Involvement - Rehabilitation

Highlands Halfway House (HHH)

• Zimbabwe’s first private psychiatric facility, with admission facilities; and workplace and community programs.

• 18 bed community rehabilitation facility.

• Multi-disciplinary approach.

• HHH has conducted wellness workplace programs with over 10 local companies.

Well-ness Interventions:

1) Corporate-wide mental health intervention programs

2) Wellness days

3) Stress surveys and management

4) Life skills training e.g. problem solving, goal setting

5) Alcohol and substance use disorder management

6) Retrenchment and retirement preparation

7) Treatment of existing illnesses

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Other Mental Health Services

• Outpatient management

• Couples counselling

• Family therapy

• Individual counselling

• Management of HIV/AIDS related psychiatric conditions (HIV/AIDS induced psychosis, depression)

• Anti-stigma campaigns associated with mental health

• Mental health promotion

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Thank You