Our World was completely overshadowed by impending doom when the COVID pandemic rose like Satan spawned, ripping its evil claws into every aspect of our lives. First, second and third mutated waves spread across the globe leaving us with no option but to comply. Protocols including masks, sanitizers, temperature checks, vaccinations, isolations and lockdowns left us all battered, exhausted and clutching to ‘the new normal’. If that wasn’t enough to deal with, unemployment, a health care crisis, travel bans, financial disaster, and devastating loss ensued.
Now, just 2 short years later, with COVID’s deathly hold seemingly loosening its grip, we finally have a moment to catch our breath. But it’s not over. Predictions of the “The Fourth Wave” – The Mental Health Crises is here. This tsunami cannot be ignored – it’s the most devastating wave of them all. It crept in fast, tripping us off our feet by triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones. Fear, trauma, panic, insomnia, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide are destroying lives – and unfortunately, there is no vaccination or quick fix for this variant.
It’s crucial, at this point, that we face our mental health crisis head-on by addressing and removing the stigmas, fear and lack of understanding that surrounds mental illness. At least one in four people experience mental health problems at some stage in their lives, whether it’s an eating disorder or schizophrenia, and half of these illnesses tend to crop up during their teenage years. Most can be dealt with in productive ways through medical interventions, psychiatric evaluations, therapy and counselling but it’s the stigma and fear that has led to gross underfunding, misdiagnoses, and a scary exacerbation of a very real problem.
According to WHO (World Health Organization), ‘Mental Health’ receives less than 1% of aid globally. This lack of funding is a direct result of the lack of international attention paid to those affected or suffering. Ignoring it prevents the bold action that is so desperately needed and so long overdue. Meanwhile, low-income countries, dedicate less than 0.5% of their health budgets to psychosocial disabilities, which means that less than 20% of some populations are able to access mental health services. Sometimes only one or two psychiatrists exist for 1 million people! The WHO also reports that in high-income countries, mental health funding averages 5.1% of health budgets, which is still inadequate to the scale of the problem.
What can YOU do to help pave a positive way forward? Start by practising Mental Health First Aid. Anyone can do it. You don’t need to complete a course or be certified to practise. To be a ‘Mental Health First Aider’ simply follow the 3 steps below:
STEP 1: If you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out and seek it.
STEP 2: Look at and address your immediate environment – family, friends, work colleagues – and stay alert to signs of mental health problems. These include changes in a person’s mood, behaviour, energy, habits, or personality.
STEP 3: Don’t ignore signs or symptoms that you notice in others, and don’t assume they will go away. If you know someone that is exhibiting any, or a number, of the below symptoms, seek professional help.
- Bizarre or unusual thinking
- Hallucinations
- Extreme mood changes
- Restless, agitated, and disorganised behaviour
- A decrease in activity or a drop in performance at work or school
- Difficulty concentrating
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Neglect of self-care (personal appearance and hygiene, eating poorly)
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviours
- Deliberate self-harm
- Destructive or high-risk behaviour
- Confusion and disorientation
- Emotional outbursts
- Sleep problems
- Weight or appetite changes
- Being quiet or withdrawn
- Substance use problems
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Changes in behaviour or feelings that have lasted for longer than two weeks
Reach out to Nikki Munitz for professional help TODAY
083 600 8225consulting@nikkimunitz.co.za
