6Apr
DEPRESSION: LETS TALK!
DEPRESSION: LETS TALK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worldwide prevalence of depression is almost 322 million, which means that around us, amongst our own loved ones there are people suffering from this tormenting disease. Yet, we are unable to identify their suffering (people tend to hide it well as depression is a sign of emotional weakness) or are unable to discuss this with them (lack of our own awareness. abilities & limitations).

Howsoever, it has been found in studies that talking to some one about one’s emotional difficulties not only provides immediate support but also inculcates a long term sense of control, confidence & hope.

We don’t need to do much, just provide a patient, compassionate, non judgmental and reflective listening. Impart a sense of adequacy, channelize thoughts and emotions in a positive direction and provide hope.

So, this World Health Day, let’s come out of our closets, open up our minds & free our souls of the sufferings – let’s talk!

 

 

4Oct
Psychological First Aid
Psychological First Aid

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID:
GOOD COMMUNICATION:
THINGS TO SAY & DO

1. Try to find a calm place, free of distractions to talk to.
2. Be patient & calm.
3. Show that you are listening – nod and make eye contact.
4. Stay close, but keep a comfortable distance as a person who has undergone a recent traumatic experience may feel threatened.
5. Provide correct & factual information. If the information is not available – ‘admit & assure to find it out as soon as possible’
6. Give information in the simplest way possible.
7. Acknowledge his pain & suffering.
8. Acknowledge his strengths & capabilities
9. respect their privacy, maintain confidentiality.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID:
GOOD COMMUNICATION:
THINGS NOT TO SAY & DO
1.Do not pressurize for information.
2. Do not interrupt o rush someone’s story.
3. Don’t give your opinions of the person’s situation
4. Don’t judge what they have or haven’t done- don’t say-“you are lucky to have survived…”
5. Don’t tell someone else’s story
6. Don’t tell about your own troubles.
7. Don’t make false promises.
8. Don’t feel you have to solve all the person’s problems.
9. Don’t take away their sense of capability and strength.

4Oct

mental-health-weekThe world mental health day is celebrated every year on the 10th of October to create awareness about mental illness in the masses.

The first mental health day was celebrated in 1942 and since then has been carried n with greater participation till date.

This year’s mental health day theme is – Psychological First Aid!

What is psychological first aid?
In the simplest of words it means providing psychological & social support to a person in distress.

Who all can do it?
Anyone with the right guidance can, you need not be a doctor, counselor, nurse or religious figure.

When can it be done?
1. any natural disaster – floods, droughts, terror attacks, riots.
2. any personal distress – robbery, divorce, death of a loved one, loss of job.
3. anyone suffering from violence or abuse at home or work.

Why do we need Psychological First Aid?
People do better in long term if
 They feel safe, connected to others, calm & hopeful.
 They have access to social, physical & emotional support
 They regain a sense of control by being able to help themselves.

Principles of Psychological first aid:

PREPARE – learn about
• Crisis event
• Available services & support
• Safety & security concerns
LOOK – observe for
• Safety
• People with obvious urgent basic needs
• People with serious distress reactions
LISTEN-
• Make contact with people needing support
• Ask about their needs & concerns
• Listen to them, help them feel calm.
LINK-
• Help people’s basic needs& access services
• Help people cope with problems
• Give information
• Connect people with loved ones and social support.

1Oct
Lecture on” Stress Management in students” at Daulat Ram College on 21 Sept 2016
5Aug

Mental Illness – Care giving for a person with psychiatric illness is quite different from care giving for a person with physical illness. Psychiatric illness has a multidimensional presentation extending much beyond the emotional and mental schemas. It is not just the longevity but the lack of insight and acceptance on the part of patient and family, the stigma and fear attached along with taking care of much more complex emotional needs, other direct and indirect physical needs, relatively anxiety-producing social needs amongst many other said and unsaid needs of the patient that gradually lead to caregiver burden amounting not just to stress or burnout but syndromal depression and anxiety in the caregiver itself.
The major concern though is not just the presence of such, but the total ignorance, non-acceptance, and unimportance of this significant entity. Multiple studies, both national and international have repeatedly found a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety in caregivers of persons with mental illness vis a vis caregivers of patients with physical illness. Howsoever, it has never received due importance in the management plan of patients’ illness itself. It is quite easy to fathom the relationship of caregiver depression and anxiety with the patient’s prognosis. Whether it is an overtly anxious mother spilling her anxiety onto a young psychotic daughter, or a middle-aged wife coping with her husband’s depression after a loss in business by taking care of children, family, finances whilst ignoring her own fears, anxieties, and insomnia or the parents of an aggressive, violent, drug abuser son….it is all too evident to see and feel the need for addressing these complaints of the caregivers.
Most of the time, these needs are not addressed as the caregivers themselves ignore their complaints and sweep them “under the carpet” for the need to focus on the patient without realizing that this would directly affect their caretaking abilities by making them feel irritable, anxious, weak, tired, lethargic and finally worsening the already challenging situation. At other times, the family and loved ones too ignore this by deciding to work more upon the patient than the caretaker. Sometimes, even when the caregiver does reach a psychiatrist, it is mostly about medication but the equally important task of learning adaptive coping skills, stress management, and regular counseling is not attended to. The caregivers need a significant amount of social support and understanding to tide over their difficulties.
Hence it becomes the onus of each and everyone involved, the patient, the family, the caregiver and the treating doctor to identify and address this important entity called the caregiver burden.

30Nov

Women Mental Health: Gender is a critical determinant of mental health, meaning that it plays an important role in defining susceptibility and exposure to a variety of mental health risks. Not only that, gender differences make help-seeking difficult and tiresome. To simplify our understanding of this vast subject, let us break it up into parts

1. RATE DIFFERENCES VIS A VIS MEN:    

Gender difference in depression is one of the most emphasizing findings in psychiatric epidemiology. Major depression occurs twice as often in women as compared to men, tends to be more persistent, and the female gender itself has been found to be a significant predictor of relapse. Also, wherein most studies have found that males have higher rates of completed suicide, it is actually the females who have a higher number of suicide attempts. Depression is mostly associated with various anxiety disorders like panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and OCD amongst others.

Even though other mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have not been found to have any significant gender differences in prevalence but the severity, duration, and functional impairment are much more prominent in women than men.

Also, stress-related mental disorders like adjustment disorder, acute stress reaction, and post-traumatic stress disorder have been found to be considerably higher in women than in men.

Another important but relatively unexpressed problem is the abuse of substances (drugs) by women. Contrary to what is generally believed about Indian women, studies have found that women substance users have been consistently rising in the past 10 years. The commonly used substances are alcohol, tobacco, heroin, and prescription medicines such as pain killers or sleeping pills.  Drug use in women is underreported due to societal disapproval, fear of exposure or stigma, and lack of support that limits treatment seeking.

2. DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN MENTAL HEALTH:  

 

A) Biological factors:

  • Hormonal factors like cyclical changes in estrogen and progesterone.
  • Variability in structural and functional brain related parameters.
  • Puberty, pregnancy, menopause associated hormonal changes.

B) Psychological factors

  • Higher negative, stressful life events
  • Societal expectations and roles
  • Stronger emotional vulnerability
  • Poor social and emotional support

C) Social factors

  • Marriage and moving to spousal home from parental home
  • Lower expected and perceived social rank
  • Gender roles of stress on passivity and submission
  • Lower occupational and economical independence

IMPACT OF WOMEN MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

The above-mentioned difficulties are only the tip of an iceberg, they themselves pose new challenges, impair the already low help-seeking and further aggravate the illness and the effect on family and self is manifold.

IMPROVING WOMEN MENTAL HEALTH

Creating awareness – not to sweep such issues ‘under the carpet’, knowing and making others aware of the differences and difficulties faced by women in day-to-day life and its effect on mental health.

Identification – to recognize these symptoms in self and friends and family.

Acceptance – to qualify such as mental health disorders and difficulties

Help-seeking – to access help in any form – family, friends, counselor, family doctor, psychiatrist.

Role of family & society-  don’t ignore such issues, extend support, seek professional help!

DELHI MIND CLINIC

The vision of Delhi Mind Clinic Is to provide mental health care to all populations in its vicinity. Delhi Mind Clinic realizes the specific mental health needs of women and its endeavor is to help the women realize their potential through optimal physical and mental health.

Dr. Sugandha Gupta, the founder of Delhi Mind Clinic has always had a specific and keen interest in women’s mental health issues. In her over 9 years of clinical experience, she has gained the expertise of dealing with various mental health issues relating to women with a focus on strengthening coping, increasing resilience, and improving functioning with an eclectic mix of psychotherapy and medication.