Sheldon Stringer’s Post

#worldmentalhealthday - so what are you going to do today to reflect on or boost your mental health? Mine was a night-time walk yesterday eve with some favourite tunes to help my mind slow down after a busy day 😌. More broadly though, we have a generational problem on our hands, where younger people are taking more time off due to mental illness than before, particularly since the pandemic. What's more, young women are more likely than other groups to feel severely stressed [see below]. Three quarters of adults now feel that mental and physical health are equally important [see below]. The obvious gap between care available for physical vs. mental health conditions springs to mind, particularly at a time when we're told government coffers are stretched to their limits. Stating the obvious somewhat here, but it's clear scalable solutions are likely to take time. Promising signs of relative efficacy for psychedelics vs. existing treatments for some anxiety disorders does perhaps provide some cause for optimism here 🍄🟫. But what do you think 👀? See here for our world mental health day research - https://lnkd.in/eFHjbKYd

🌟 June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 🌟 At Modern Mind Clinic, we’re committed to raising awareness about men’s mental health. Did you know that men are less likely to seek help for issues like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder? 🧠 Important facts to consider: • Men have a 41% higher mortality rate than women and face higher risks for heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. • 31% of men experience depression in their lifetime, with 9% feeling daily depression or anxiety. Yet, only a quarter talk to a mental health professional and a third take medication. Let’s break the stigma. Pay attention to signs of depression and don’t be afraid to seek help. 💪 #MensMentalHealth #ModernMindClinic #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #MentalHealthMatters

🧠 Did you know? Mental health plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. According to Lanert, approximately 14% of the global burden of disease is attributed to neuropsychiatric disorders, highlighting the significance of addressing mental health challenges. Depression, substance-use disorders, and psychoses are among the leading contributors to this burden, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and support for mental health issues. However, the separation of mental health from mainstream health initiatives may have hindered efforts to combat these challenges effectively. It's time to bridge the gap and recognize the interconnectedness of mental and physical health. Because, as Lanert suggests, there can be no health without mental health. That's why we're inviting you to join us for a special walk with integrated services. At this event, all units will offer talks and consultations on mental health. From triage to consultation, our goal is to provide comprehensive support and raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference. Let's walk together towards a healthier future! #MentalHealthMatters #IntegratedServices #CommunitySupport  #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth.

I was having a chat with someone I met recently, and I introduced myself as a mental health professional and that I work in a psychiatric hospital. At that moment, she paused, and I wondered what made her smile to disappear. After a while, she smiled again and said, "Do not let anyone hear this, or they will run away from you." I then moved a bit closer to her and said, "This is my identity, and I am proud to exist in that environment", then we changed the topic. This was not the first time I received cold treatment from people because of my work and the people I associate with, as a result. So, most times, I wonder how people living with mental health challenges cope with such stigma and how it affects their interaction with others, work, family, and even their help seeking behaviour and treatment. As humans, we have the tendency to avert what we don't know or have explanations for. So, since most of us do not know the cause, symptoms, or management of mental disorders, we tend to run away or avoid persons having such challenges and even those related to them. The obvious truth is that mental health is health! Just like your stomach can ache and get treated, the same way your brain can ache and get treated. Just as people recover from physical illness, people also recover from mental illness. While some physical conditions can not be cured but managed, some mental challenges can not be cured but managed. In the same way we have gynaecologist and other doctors who specialise in the treatment of different body diseases, we also have psychiatrists and other mental health professionals who treat brain disorders. So, do not look down on anyone whether their eyes, teeth, bone, brain, or any part of the body is ill. They are all illness and need the same assistance. Let's support one another and END THE STIGMA! #endthestigma #endmentalhealthstigma #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #support #resilience #wellness

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay! We hope everyone is taking a moment to reflect on ways to improve the state of mental health - in the workplace, in the home and in yourself. 💕  Today, we’ll give a little extra shout out to the parents of teens  💪🏻 Tips for a couple of simple things you can do… ·      Give an extra hug today:  We know hugs release hormones, including oxytocin – which can help increase relaxation and lower anxiety.  ·      Share a meal with your teen tonight.  From the data we have collected on what makes for the best part of a day for teens, food plays a huge role! Good food ranks #2 for teens! (well done to all you parents who get good food on the table day after day!) ·      Play a little game of 'best & worst'. Ask each other – what were the 3 best things and 1 worst thing that happened today?!  Science tells us that just saying it out loud helps.

New research has shed new light on how the silent repeating of a word – any word – can have profound physiological benefits. In a 2015 study in the Brain and Behavior journal, the silent repetition of the non-descript word “one” was found to globally calm all parts of the brain in 23 volunteers who had never meditated before. In addition to reducing cortical brain activity across the brain, there was an enhanced reduction in activity in the part of the brain called the “default mode network” which is responsible for self-judgment. While this research helps explain some of the benefits of prayer and meditation, which typically employed the silent repetition of a word or series of words used for thousands of years around the world, it highlights the beneficial use of a single word, a short phrase or mantra.

I woke up today to a thoughtful message from a close friend, Todd Bindner, reminding me of three simple but powerful actions we can take to support our own mental health and the well-being of those around us: 1. Do something nice for someone. 2. Do something that’s difficult. 3. Do something that makes YOU feel good. Mental health is a complex and universal topic--one that touches all of us at some point in our lives. And yet, it often feels like we only have these conversations when awareness months like today roll around. The truth is, mental health is something we need to talk about every day. Every day, someone is struggling with it, and we need to do better in creating spaces where these conversations can happen openly and without stigma. I was reminded of this even more after attending a live discussion hosted by Google Health on mental health awareness and access to care. It was encouraging to hear how technology, especially AI, is making a real impact in the healthcare space, helping to alleviate the burden on care providers and support staff so that they can focus on what matters most: the patient. It's a step in the right direction, but it also reminds me that while technology is part of the solution, the human side of mental health care is irreplaceable. Let’s not wait for another awareness month to have these important conversations. Let's check in on our friends, reach out when we need help, and continue advocating for better mental health care and resources. It’s up to all of us to make every day a conversation about mental well-being. #WorldMentalHealthDay

"It surprises me that there is little to no shame or stigma in discussing the failure of any organ in our bodies. → Talking about cancer seems acceptable. → Mentioning that you caught a flu is considered okay. → Discussing heart diseases is seen as normal. Yet, when it comes to mental health issues, there seems to be an unwritten rule that these should be kept hidden. Isn’t that strange?" 💬 💬 💬 This was shared with me yesterday, and I felt compelled to pass it on in today’s post. Our society needs to create a safe environment for people to openly discuss the mental health challenges they or their loved ones are facing. Let’s practice kindness, shall we? 🙏 #mentalhealthstigma #itsokaytonotbeokay #thepositivearena 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸. 𝘐 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘢𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯 🔔 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦.

Breaking the Stigma: Empowering Conversations about Depression In the shadows of societal misconceptions lies a profound struggle that millions face silently: depression. Despite its prevalence, misconceptions and stigma surrounding depression persist, often hindering individuals from seeking help and support. It's time to break the silence and shatter these barriers. Depression is not a sign of weakness; it's a complex mental health condition influenced by biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Yet, pervasive stigma can lead to feelings of shame, isolation, and reluctance to seek treatment. As professionals, it's crucial to foster environments where discussions about mental health are not only welcomed but encouraged. We must challenge stigmatizing beliefs by fostering empathy, understanding, and open dialogue. By sharing our experiences, we dismantle the notion that depression is a personal failure and instead recognize it as a legitimate medical condition deserving of compassion and support. As leaders in our respective fields, let's prioritize mental health education and resources, destigmatize seeking help, and create inclusive workplaces where individuals feel safe to disclose their struggles without fear of judgment or repercussion. Together, we can break down the barriers of stigma, elevate conversations about depression, and pave the way for a more supportive and compassionate society. #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheSilence #DepressionAwareness #MentalHealthInWorkplace #SupportNotStigma