The Baobab Association: What you need to know about Mental Health |05 January 2018

The Baobab Association, a local, non-government organisation which focuses on raising awareness on mental health and wellbeing, was set up in October 2017 and among the multiple reasons for its formation, were the results from the Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted among children aged 13 – 15 years old in 2015 by the Ministry of Health.

The survey indicated that a significant proportion of youth are engaging in risky behaviours, including 21% of students having considered attempting suicide over a period of 12 months and 20% having attempted suicide at least one time in the same amount of time. It is in this light that The Baobab Association spoke to the Seychelles NATION to enlighten the public and raise awareness about mental health.

The association notes that while it is not geared to help treat or provide medical solutions to those affected by mental health problems, it exists in the hope of breaking the stigma around them; to remind us that mental wellbeing is as important as physical health and wellbeing; to make it known that there are many, especially youth, that are being affected by mental health illnesses and to be the liaison point between the public and relevant authorities.

What is mental health?

Mental health is our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and it affects how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others and make choices. There is a lot of misconception about the definition of mental health. It is often used to refer to mental illnesses and this is where the problem lies. Although mental health and mental illness are related, they represent different psychological states.

Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realises their own abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and is able to make a contribution to their community. Well-being includes the presence of positive emotions and moods e.g. happiness, the absence of negative emotions e.g. depression, satisfaction with life, fulfillment and positive functioning. In simple terms, well-being can be described as judging life positively and feeling good. Poor mental health will affect your wellbeing.

Mental illness is defined as health conditions that are characterised by alterations in thinking, mood, or behaviour (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning in social activities, work and/or family activities. Some illnesses include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

What causes mental illnesses? 

According to the World Health Organisation, many factors contribute to such illnesses. Below are a few examples:

Multiple social, psychological, and biological factors, e.g. persistent socio-economic pressures, rapid social change, stressful work conditions, gender discrimination, social exclusion, unhealthy lifestyles, risks of violence, physical ill-health, human rights violations, break ups/divorce, bullying, stressful learning conditions at school, trauma, abuse and genetic factors which contribute to imbalances in chemicals in the brain.

Why is mental health and wellbeing important?

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Good mental health and wellbeing allows people to:

• Realise their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities
• Maintain positive and meaningful relationships with others

What are some of the signs of mental illnesses?

There are many signs and some examples are:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Smoking, drinking or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried or scared
• Thinking of harming yourself or others

Who can be affected by mental illnesses?

Anyone can be affected as no one is immune to such illnesses and it can manifest or become worse at any point in someone’s life like a physical illness.

How can a person identify that they or a loved one have/has a mental illness?

By becoming familiar with the signs mentioned earlier but not limited to them. Any persistent, unusual and inconsistent behaviour, mood and thinking is a cause of concern.

Can a person fully recover from a mental illness?

With the right treatments (including therapy, counselling, prescribed medication if it is severe) and most importantly, crucial support from family and friends, a person can recover. For some chronic illnesses, e.g. severe depression, bipolar disorder and dementia, prescribed medication is key and it is important that this  is taken as prescribed in order to maintain a healthy and functional life.

What options for assistance are available to people suffering in Seychelles?

Despite the absence of a policy, action plan and 24/7 helpline for mental health specifically, there are services, such as psychologists available at the Victoria Hospital (Green Roof). One must call the hospital and explain their issue for assistance.

The association hopes to work with the Ministry of Health to make available information on the services available and support/assist them in introducing/improving services to promote mental health and wellbeing in Seychelles.

How can a person maintain positive mental health?

Some examples include:

• Getting professional help if you need it
• Connecting with others who are positive and help you grow as an individual
• Always thinking positively despite the situation
• Getting adequate sleep, being physically active and avoiding risky behaviours
• Developing coping skills

How can we be more empathetic towards people suffering from mental illnesses?

• Be attentive to their complaints and treat them with respect, not as a burden
• Always be supportive and maintain a positive mind set so that the positivity is transferred to the ones suffering
• Seek professional help for them when all other forms of support fail
• Employers need to identify the signs of mental illnesses and not discriminate against someone who is suffering and promote mental health and wellbeing at work, in schools and hospitals
• Be kind to people in general and not just those we know are suffering as we never know what others are going through in life.