MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

WORLD Mental Health Day is observed annually on the 10th October. This is a time to raise awareness on mental health issues and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health programmes on various platforms of our society.

This day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health day is Mental Health Care for All: Let’s Make It a Reality. This theme comes at a time that the world has been faced with the COVID-19 pandemic for almost 2 years now, and the pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s wellbeing, in several different ways. From students, adapting to lost time due to lockdowns, coming back to a learning environment with little contact with teachers and friends, and anxious about their futures; to employees whose livelihoods have been disrupted by uncertain work conditions; and to all those who have recently lost a loved one to the pandemic and not being able to have a normal grieving process; most people’s mental health has been affected whether they realise it or not.

The new realities brought by the pandemic, such as working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with family and friends have helped keep people safe from the virus, but in turn negatively impacting their mental health. This means that now more than ever, there is a crucial need for mental health services to a wide variety of people.

BOSASNET has duly adapted to this current need by introducing a Mental Health programme in addition to the Substance Use Disorder programme. We offer counselling services (individual, family, and couples) to people experiencing problems with depression, anxiety, stress (stress management and anger management), relationship difficulties and adjustment issues to mention a few. We therefore encourage people to access our mental health services or go to other organisations that provide such services like the Botswana Network for Mental Health.

Below is a self assessment questionnaire to check if you may have a mental health related problem (This is not a diagnostic assessment); • Do you have trouble concentrating? • Do you have more worries or anxiety than usual?

• Have you been getting poor/inadequate sleep?

• Do you constantly feel more sad than happy lately?

• Have you been experiencing significant mood swings, crying, or thoughts of suicide?

• Do you find yourself drinking more alcohol to cope with current challenges?

• Have you been isolating yourself from others at work, friends, or family?

• Have you lost interest in activities that you used to enjoy?

If you answer ‘yes’ to 2 or more of these questions then you may need to seek further assessment and help from a professional.

BOSASNET offers counselling services to people experiencing problems with substance use, depression, anxiety, stress, anger management and adjustment issues. If you think that you might have a problem mentioned above, or if you have a friend or family member who does, we encourage you to seek help. For some, it can mean the difference between life and death. You can find BOSASNET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, visit us on www.bosasnet.com, or call us on 3959119 or 72659891 for more information.