What Is Mental Health?
MENTAL health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood right through to adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected.
Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse Family history mental health problems Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Early Warning Signs
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem: Eating or sleeping too much or too little Pulling away from people and usual activities Having low or no energy Feeling numb or like nothing matters
Having unexplained aches and pains Feeling helpless or hopeless Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared Yelling or fighting with family and friends Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head Hearing voices or believing things that are not true Thinking of harming yourself or others Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school [Source: www.mentalhealth.gov]
QUICK FACTS Mental Health Services
The 300-bed Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital in Lobatse has four psychiatrists. It opened in 2009 to replace the 180-bed Lobatse Mental Hospital, which had been in existence from 1938. Sbrana is a stand-alone fully serviced hospital with teaching and forensic facilities and separate child, adolescent and psychogeriatric wards, a mother and baby unit and an observation ward, as well as acute, chronic and rehabilitation wards. It has a day hospital, psychology, social work, occupational therapy and pharmacy services.
[Source: www.researchgate.net]