mental health support
WHO for making mental health support part of climate action plans
Mental health support must be included in national responses to climate change, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday at the Stockholm+50 environmental summit.
Climate change poses serious risks to people's mental health and well-being, the UN agency said in a new policy brief, which concurs with a report published in February by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The IPCC study revealed that rapidly increasing climate change is a rising threat to mental health and psychosocial well-being, from emotional distress to anxiety, depression, grief, and suicidal behaviour.
"The impacts of climate change are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, and there is very little dedicated mental health support available for people and communities dealing with climate-related hazards and long-term risk," said Dr Maria Neira, director of the WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.
The mental health impacts of climate change are unequally distributed, with certain groups disproportionately affected depending on factors such as socioeconomic status, gender and age, according to the WHO brief.
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However, the UN agency said it was clear that climate change affects many of the social determinants that already are leading to massive mental health burdens globally.
Out of 95 countries surveyed last year, only nine included mental health and psychosocial support in their national health and climate change plans.
"The impact of climate change is compounding the already extremely challenging situation for mental health and mental health services globally. Nearly one billion people are living with mental health conditions. In low and middle-income countries, three out four do not have access to needed services," said Dévora Kestel, director of the WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
"By ramping up mental health and psychosocial support within disaster risk reduction and climate action, countries can do more to help protect those most at risk," she added.
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The WHO urged the governments to integrate climate considerations with mental health programmes, merge mental health support with climate action, and build upon their global commitments.
Authorities should also develop community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities, and close the large funding gap that currently exists for mental health and psychosocial support, it said.
Among the pioneering countries cited in the WHO report is The Philippines, which rebuilt and improved its mental health services after super typhoon Haiyan in 2013, reportedly one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded.
India also scaled up disaster risk reduction while at the same time preparing cities to respond to climate risks and address mental health and psychosocial needs.
Mental Health: Types of Mental Illness and supporting someone with a mental health problem
Proper counseling and treatment can cure mental problems completely like other physical problems. Since mental health complications are not like physical pain, many do not understand when they should actually seek mental health support. Moreover, family or social taboos also stand in the way. With that not, World Mental Health 2021 is going to observe on October 10 with the theme, 'Mental health in an unequal world.' So, when should a person seek help for mental problems? And how to support people with mental health problems? We will get to know about mental health support in this article.
What is a mental health problem?
The actual definition of mental illness varies according to country, culture, and people. Hence, there is no unified definition of mental health problems. However, some common words are used to indicate mental illness. For example, psychological problems, mental health, headache, etc., are used to indicate mental illness.
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How to understand if anyone is suffering from mental illness?
When a person's behavior changes drastically, especially the emotional expression changes, which starts to affect the daily activities, in such cases, one should understand that the person is not mentally stable. Apart from these symptoms, there are some specific issues that may indicate a mental health problem. Usually, people with mental illness suddenly become excited. People are also seen keeping themselves away from everyone for a long time.
Staying upset for more than two weeks in a row can be a sign of mental health problems. Quarrels with everyone and don't want to talk to anyone can be the symptoms too. Other symptoms are hearing some irrelevant sounds, unnecessarily doubting, not taking care by stopping doing regular daily activities like bathing or brushing teeth, and dissatisfaction and loss of interest in the activities that bring happiness.
Sometimes, people stop themselves from making any sort of social relationships, thinking negatively about themselves or feeling responsible for everything, decisiveness or loss of concentration, and plan suicidal thoughts and attempts.
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In some cases, sleep may be reduced abnormally or increase, feel an aversion to food or increased appetite and loss of interest in home, office, or professional work.
However, these problems do not mean that the person has a mental illness. But if anyone has these signs or symptoms, the person should talk to a psychiatrist. After that, the doctor can analyze it and understand whether any action should be taken.
Covid highlights growing need for mental health support
Countries across the world, including Bangladesh, will observe World Mental Health Day Sunday, at a time when there has been a "worldwide failure to provide people with the mental health services they need as the Covid-19 pandemic is highlighting a growing need for mental health support."
The day is observed every year on October 10 across the world for raising awareness about mental health.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of World Mental Health Day 2021 whose theme is "Mental Health in an Unequal World."
"Mental health problems have significantly increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic," President Hamid said. He stressed the need for family and social support for patients with mental health issues along with treatment.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the development of mental health alongside physical health is vital for building a happy and prosperous nation. She directed the concerned authorities to work in a way that mental health services can be brought to the doorsteps of people.
Read: World misses most 2020 mental health targets: WHO
International Day on the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Standing with Survivors Today and Every Day
The thing about a global crisis like COVID-19 is that people often think of it as a “great equalizer”, it affects the whole world and somehow makes everyone suffer equally. When people living in peaceful countries were hit by COVID-19, they thought that they finally experienced the suffering they always thought was reserved for people who live in less fortunate countries who experience this regularly. They could not be more wrong.