How Often Do You Check in with Yourself
Citra Diyab
As stage 4 restrictions have been implemented here in Melbourne, Victoria, our overall health is very important, and this also includes our mental health. Mental health is a deeply personal and sensitive matter, and the only way to become more knowledgeable and understanding is by talking about it. I have been fortunate enough to speak with Psychologist, Amel Abdulkadir on the topic.
Citra Diyab
Amel Abdulkadir
In my own experience, growing up in a migrant home and community, mental health was rarely spoken about. You might hear the word thrown around in schools, movies and maybe even hear it in stories but the important question is, what is it? How would you define Mental Health?
In simple terms, Mental Health is the overall mental state of an individual that is linked to one’s behaviour. What this means is that when you are able to realise your own potential, you can cope with life stressors, work productively and contribute to the community – this indicates you are in a good mental position.
Have you heard of the words Anxiety and Depression? It could have been in a movie or even a documentary you were watching. These are common mental health conditions. Some more examples of mental health diagnosis’ prominent today are Bipolar Disorder, Phobias, OCD, Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse Disorders.
Do you know of someone who used to be extremely social and now has socially withdrawn, has issues thinking, mood is constantly changing, one has become a lot more sensitive, feels disconnected, has thoughts of hurting oneself or no longer wants to live, partaking in unusual behaviour or using substances like alcohol and drugs to cope with life? These are all possible signs of mental health troubles. I know these signs can be confronting or scary for some. So, what can you do to help? How can you support someone struggling especially during these challenging times?
Having a chat and trying to understand what is troubling them is a good place to start. Listening to someone’s story without any judgement, showing empathy, reassurance, trying to extend a helping hand and encouraging them to seek professional help is the best thing you can do. This might not sound like too much but believe me it is effective and it helps!
Communities in today’s society seem to overlook mental health as a pressing issue. This can be due to the lack of understanding of what mental health is and not knowing how to deal with it. What are some things or initiatives we should focus on as a community to expand people’s knowledge on mental health?
Discussing the realness and the importance of mental health as a community is a good place to start. Conducting workshops where health professionals may deliver education and enlighten the youth/elders about mental health, give support to children (e.g. life skills programmes, child and youth development programmes) are all good initiatives to address mental health. These approaches help an individual or families identify safety issues and reduce harm, empower people with depression or any health diagnosis to self-manage, use peer support to enhance recovery and most importantly, educate to support resilience / recovery.
Our community can do better in addressing the seriousness of mental health. The first step is to talk openly about it. Normalising how one is feeling, educating oneself and others, being conscious of one’s language, showing empathy, compassion and including support services in one’s newsletter, websites or schools may have an overall positive impact.
For numerous migrant communities the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted their lives. People are not able to see their friends and family like they used to which can be hard. What are some ways people can stay connected to their loved ones without physically being around them, which in hand can impact people’s health positively?
We are in a time now where we are not able to drive 5 minutes to see a friend or attend family gatherings. Firstly, we need to understand this pandemic will pass sooner or later and life will be back to normal. Until we are free again, plenty of Facetime calls, zoom sessions, phone calls and text messages are all ways to keep in touch and stay connected with our loved ones.
What are some good daily habits people can add to their routine that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle?
Self-care and looking after one’s well-being is essential especially during these difficult times. In order for us to stay motivated and be in a good mental space, we need to incorporate the things we enjoy. I myself love baking so I have now included that in my routine, which can also act as a distraction and help cope in challenging situations. Some helpful tips to better our overall mental health is to talk about our feelings with friends, family or professionals, have a balanced healthy diet and lastly, lots of exercise!
As you mentioned, it is important to talk about how you are feeling with family and friends. In times like this, they are most likely experiencing similar feelings. Rather than speaking with someone you know personally; some individuals would prefer to talk to someone who is not connected to them on a personal level. Many may be unsure of the services that are available, what would you recommend or what are some services that are available?
There are various support services available out there for people needing extra support to cope. There are various services out there which are free, confidential and if you wish to remain anonymous you can. Just to name a few, some of the services I would recommend are:
Beyond Blue: 24/7 service which aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. 1300 22 4636
Kids helpline: Private counselling specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25. 1800 55 1800
Mensline Australia: 24/7 Telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns. 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service: 24/7 support service for you or someone who feeling suicidal. 1300 659 467
BENEFIT: Recite Tahseen and Mu^awwidhat every day after Fajr and Maghrib prayer and by the Will of Allah one will be protected from harm.
In addition, saying ‘La hawla wala quwwata illa billah’ everyday over 300 times has 90 cures, one of which is depression. May Allah protect us all from harm. Ameen.