5 years ago · Admin · Comments Off on Helping Someone You Love Cope With Mental Illness

Helping Someone You Love Cope With Mental Illness

It can be very difficult, sometimes even heart-wrenching, to see a loved one struggling with symptoms of mental illness. And often it can be hard to understand how to best help and support your loved one cope with mental health problem.

How mental illnesses can affect family and friends?

It’s difficult and overwhelming to be diagnosed with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. It’s also difficult when a loved one is experiencing one of these diseases. When a person is living with a serious mental illness, the whole family may be affected.

How do I know if someone has a mental health problem?

Most often it will seem obvious when someone is going through a hard time, but then, there is no simple way of knowing if they have a mental health problem or if they are suicidal. It’s important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out whether or not they have a diagnosis.

Although certain symptoms are common with specific mental health problems, no two people will show the same symptoms or behave in exactly the same way when they are unwell. If you know the person well, you may notice changes in their behaviour or mood.

How can I help?

There are a number of ways you can help a friend, relative or colleague who has a mental health problem:

Talking about mental health

If you are worried about someone it can be difficult to know what to do. When you are aware there is an issue, it is important not to wait. Waiting and hoping they will come to you for help might lose valuable time in getting them support.

Talking to someone is often the first step to take when you know they are going through a hard time. This way you can find out what is troubling them and what you can do to help.

Eight Tips For Talking About Mental Health

1. Set time aside with no distractions
   It is important to provide an open and non-judgemental space with no distractions.
   
   
2. Let them share as much or as little as they want to
   Let them lead the discussion at their own pace. Don’t put pressure on them to tell you anything they aren’t ready to talk about. Talking can take a lot of trust and courage. You might be the first person they have been able to talk to about this.
   
   
3. Don’t try to diagnose or second guess their feelings
   You probably aren’t a medical expert and, while you may be happy to talk and offer support, you aren’t a trained counsellor. Try not to make assumptions about what is wrong or jump in too quickly with your own diagnosis or solutions.
   
   
4. Keep questions open ended
   Say “Why don’t you tell me how you are feeling?” rather than “I can see you are feeling very low”. Try to keep your language neutral. Give the person time to answer and try not to grill them with too many questions.
   
   
5. Talk about wellbeing
   Exercise, having a healthy diet and taking a break can help protect mental health and sustain wellbeing. Talk about ways of de-stressing and ask if they find anything helpful.
   
   
6. Listen carefully to what they tell you
   Repeat what they have said back to them to ensure you have understood it. You don’t have to agree with what they are saying, but by showing you understand how they feel and they are going through; you are letting them know you respect their feelings.
   
   
7. Offer them help in seeking professional support and provide information on ways to do this
   You might want to offer to go the GP with them, or help them talk to a friend or family member. Try not to take control and allow them to make decisions.
   
   
8. Know your limits
   Ask for help or signpost if the problem is serious. If you believe they are in immediate danger or they have injuries that need medical attention, you need to take action to make sure they are safe.
   
   

If it is a family member or close friend you are concerned about, they might not want to talk to you. Try not to take this personally: talking to someone you love can be difficult as they might be worried that they are hurting you. It is important to keep being open and honest and telling them that you care.

Why Choose Us

We measure our progress by the number of people in whom we restore the hope of a healthy tomorrow. Our doctors are highly skilled, experienced, compassionate and will be there when you need them most. We have the best talent and a team of best psychiatrist and psychologist in Noida and are rated one of the best psychiatry clinic in Noida.

We understand the decision to seek psychiatric/ psychological care can be stressful and is just not easy. However, be assured as, at Pathfinders Clinic, you will be treated with sensitivity and respect to meet your individual, unique needs.

Book an Online Appointment

Pathfinders Clinic, through its team of mental health professionals, offers proven and latest medical advances in an environment that promotes mental health and enhances a sense of wellness.

Pathfinders Clinic provides online appointment facility to its patients and also for those who wish to seek a second opinion from our mental health experts.

6 years ago · Admin · Comments Off on Identifying and Improving Mental Health in the Workplace

Identifying and Improving Mental Health in the Workplace

Managing stress — and seeking professional assistance from mental health experts when needed — can help combat mental illness on the job.

What is workplace stress?

Workplace stress is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as ‘the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope’, and elaborated that it can be caused ‘by poor work organization (the way we design jobs and work systems, and the way we manage them), by poor work design (e.g., lack of control over work processes), poor management, unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors’.

While workplace stress, stigma and attitudes towards employees suffering from stress or mental illness have been researched and interventions developed to address them better, globally, it still remains an often neglected aspect across different industries and countries, including India, and only a few of the learnings are actually implemented.

Common Sources of Work Stress

What causes this stress? From research and various surveys, heavy demand, lack of control over work, low level of support from colleagues and management, bullying and harassment, constant change, are the culprits. You can know you are stressed when you start worrying about work at home, dread going to work, lose sleep and /or appetite and become increasingly short-tempered.

Certain factors tend to go hand-in-hand with work-related stress. Some common workplace stressors are:

• Low salaries.
• Excessive workloads.
• Few opportunities for growth or advancement.
• Work that isn’t engaging or challenging.
• Lack of social support.
• Not having enough control over job-related decisions.
• Conflicting demands or unclear performance expectations.

Tips to Manage Stress

Here are some recognised and proven Stress Busters to help you combat the strains of work-related stress:

• Recognise signs early
• Don’t bring work home
• Learn to say no
• Always take breaks
• A few minutes of exercise every day goes a long way
• Speak to your supervisor; employers have a duty of care
• Create a network of support: family, friends & colleagues
• Get involved in activities you enjoy outside work, ex: hobbies, voluntary work, learning new skills, something positive to cherish
• Avoid smoking/drinking excessively to cope. Alcohol worsens low mood
• Use time management strategies to work efficiently
• Accept things you cannot change, like a full ‘in tray’, irrespective of how hard you work
• Learn Relaxation Techniques. Meditation & Yoga can help
• Contact your occupational health department, they may be able to access professional counselling for you
• Attack the root cause. Ask questions like: Do I like my job? Could I be better somewhere else?

If all above fails then it is advisable seek professional mental health advice. Depression and anxiety disorders can come in the guise of stress. These are treatable disorders, requiring assessment, treatment and support.

What can employers do?

Employers can address and reduce excessive workplace stress by focusing their efforts at the following three levels:

• Prevention level: by developing organization-wide policies and practices in the following key areas:
  • Training for leaders and supervisors on effective ways to reduce stress;
  • Working with employees to create challenging but realistic goals for optimal performance;
  • Communicating clearly and managing conflicts respectfully;
  • Identifying and using employees’ strengths and skills for career advancement;
  • Compensating fairly;
  • Ensuring safe work conditions;
  • Modelling work-life balance;
  • Building in opportunities to formally recognize individual and team goal achievement;
  • Creating a work climate that encourages social support and connectedness; and
  • Developing ways to reflect on positive daily workplace events and accomplishments.

Adopting effective stress reduction strategies also holds promise in preventing depression¹³ which can be costly to employers.

• Targeted early identification and intervention level offer employees the following options:
  • Stress screenings and information on stress reduction and the early warning signs of mental health conditions;
  • Effective intervention programs like cognitive-behavioural therapy for stress management;
  • Programs that effectively address stress like mindfulness, relaxation, yoga and tai chi and encourage exercise, emphasizing the value to mental and physical health; and
  • Programs that improve resiliency.

When is the right time to bring up mental health concerns with your supervisor?

Disclosing a mental health condition is no different than disclosing any other medical condition. It depends on the purpose of the disclosure. Think about why you want to disclose your personal information. Share it on a need-to-know basis. Like any medical information, it is up to you about whether you want to be confidential. You might need to ask for time off, and you will need to share this with your manager. Sometimes you need to disclose because hospitalization is required.

How will you know when it is time to get professional help?

If you have experienced a change in mood for two weeks or more, you should speak with your primary care physician, a psychiatrist or another mental health professional.

Workplace stress can significantly impact the bottom line. However, it can be managed to improve productivity, employee health and to create a more positive workplace climate and culture.