Almost one billion people live with some mental disorder, three million people die every year as a result of alcohol abuse, while every 40 seconds one person commits suicide. The coronavirus pandemic, which has affected billions of people around the world, has consequences for mental health, and Montenegro is no exception.
In the Mental Health Center of the Podgorica Health Center, since the beginning of the epidemic, they have recorded a significantly higher number of requests for psychological and psychiatric services. There are more and more requests for help and support from psychologists and therapists who are also employed in other institutions or work privately.
What are the problems in terms of mental health that are present in the conditions of the epidemic, what kind of support, where and when citizens can look for it, what can everyone do for their own mental health, and when is the time to turn to experts... o this is what the head of the Center for Mental Health of the Health Center in Podgorica, specialist in psychiatry Ljiljana Vučeljić, psychologist and psychotherapist Al-Ammar Kašić and psychologist at the Institute of Oncology of the Clinical Center (KC) Damira Murić, told "Vijesti".
"The change in the way of life caused by the coronavirus pandemic, confronting the population with restrictions, isolation, job loss, reduced social contacts, economic problems..., has led to a significant decline in the quality of life. "Long-term suffering of uncertainty, worry and fear of illness and loss of loved ones leads to a weakening of the psychological strength to overcome stressful situations and thus collapses mental health, and it is not surprising that the recorded increase in numerous metal disorders and disorders in this period" Vučeljićeva told "Vijesta" .
Speaking about the most common problems for which citizens apply for psychological and psychiatric help, she said that they are feelings of apprehension, fear, restlessness, tension, insomnia and low mood.
"Until now, there has been an increase in mental disorders related to stress, anxiety disorders and depression, and we are also recording increased abuse of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. "Only after the end of the epidemic, given that it is still ongoing, will we have a clear picture of the extent of its harmful impact on the mental health of citizens," she said.
At the Center for Mental Health, as Vučeljićeva said, during the epidemic, there was a noticeable increase in the number of mental disorders and disorders, and there were more people seeking help.
"During the duration of the epidemic, the number of requests for psychological and psychiatric services, which include psychotherapeutic techniques and pharmacotherapy, increased significantly. The center has open telephone lines through which citizens can get all information about their mental problems, as well as professional advice and support. If our expert team assesses that a psychiatric examination is necessary, it is scheduled as soon as possible. The Center's outpatient clinics are active throughout the duration of the epidemic, examinations can be scheduled regularly, although we advise citizens to consult with one of our experts about their problem in advance by phone in order to avoid unnecessary visits. We pay special attention to citizens who seek psychological or psychiatric help for the first time, and we also take care of our long-term patients, with severe and chronic mental disorders, continuously monitoring their mental state and regular therapy," said Vučeljić.
Prevention and awareness protect mental health
Psychologist and psychotherapist Al-Ammar Kašić says that worry, stress and fear are a normal response to situations when there is a danger to life, or a person is faced with uncertainty. He adds, however, that the coronavirus forced many to face the previous elections, showed that everything in society, globally, but also on a personal level, needs to change, and revealed how important mental hygiene and mental health really are.
According to him, mental health should be nurtured and maintained on a daily basis, preferably acting preventively. And when he describes what taking care of mental health looks like, he compares it to how we take care of physical health.
"What does our physical health look like if we do not take care of it, for example, if we neglect the body through physical inactivity, bad food... If we want to preserve physical health, we will become aware of how we feel after some food we eat. If we don't want to feel bad and have a stomach ache, then we won't eat food that will make our stomach hurt. On the mental plane, we also feed ourselves through impressions, thoughts and feelings," he says.
Kašić adds that there are many ways in which a person can react when it comes to mental health care, and that it is enough to start with an alert awareness.
"Before they started brushing their teeth regularly, people did not manage to preserve them until old age. One such, very simple activity of brushing teeth, which today is already a matter of habit and education, has enabled people to preserve their teeth for most of their lives. We need to find for ourselves what is equivalent to brushing our teeth at the level of mental health and to slow down this activity in order to ensure and support our mental well-being", Kašić explains.
When it comes to mental health in the conditions of the coronavirus, he recalls the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), according to which one should be informed, yet limit access to news, maintain existing social contacts, avoid alcohol due to boredom, fear, anxiety or loneliness, limit the time we spend on social media, to focus on the help we can give to others and to support those who are already doing it...
As we seek help for a broken leg, we also need help for a broken soul
When asked why it is sometimes difficult to decide on help when it comes to mental health, Kašić says that sometimes people simply don't know where to start. And sometimes, he adds, there are big cultural, religious or personal prejudices. “However, if we break a leg, have a serious broken bone and are bleeding profusely, we probably won't think much about whether or not to go to a specialist. We will seek the help we need. When there is a fracture, injury or long-term conflict on the mental level as well, it's okay to seek help and it's okay to take care of our mental health in a responsible way," he says.
As in Vučeljić, Kašić also says that since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in clients seeking help and support on various topics. "I hear from my colleagues with whom I am in contact that they also note an increase in interest in psychological counseling, support in self-development and psychotherapy. In a psychological sense, a crisis is always an opportunity to do something differently now, and many people are now faced with changing themselves, because they cannot change circumstances beyond their control. It is not easy to give one answer to what bothers people the most because of the individual differences of each person. What is a challenge for some, is not for others, what is a source of fear for some, for others it doesn't have to be, what keeps some people awake late at night, others don't even register as a problem, what disturbs someone in their normal functioning, it makes it easier for others to complete their work... What is certainly common is the clients' motivation to change and their willingness to accept responsibility for their lives in their entirety, and change is always a real possibility", said Kašić.
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10. This year, World Mental Health Day is celebrated with the slogan "Movement for Mental Health: Let's Invest in Mental Health" and is dedicated to advocating for increased investment in mental health. In the world, an average of three percent of the health budget is spent on improving mental health.
When should you seek expert help?
When is the moment to turn to experts when it comes to mental health? Kašić says that there are several questions that everyone can ask themselves and that can help in making a decision. Some of those questions are: Does this bother me most of the time and almost every day, is my ability to function diminished because of this bothering me, do I react excessively and inadequately emotionally in some neutral and ordinary situations.
"If the answer to any of these three questions is 'yes', the help of a mental health expert is welcome," says Kašić.
He will also hold an online lecture "Feeling OK" today. The lecture starts at 19.00:XNUMX p.m. and is broadcast live on the Facebook pages of the American Corner Podgorica and Pljevlja, and on Instagram @razgovor_sa_psihologom.
Stress at work, stress at home
Support in epidemic conditions is necessary for everyone, including health workers.
Vučeljićeva said that those who are in direct contact with coronavirus patients are particularly exposed to daily stress at the workplace, and other life difficulties that everyone faces in such a situation do not bypass them either.
"Increased work demands, concern about exposure to infection and numerous other factors associated with the current pandemic can lead to burnout syndrome in healthcare workers, which is manifested by anxiety, fear, sadness, irritability, insomnia, decreased concentration and numerous physical disturbances such as elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate, nausea, diarrhea... These symptoms can be temporary if you pay attention to them in time and take into account a healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet, physical activity, time for rest, staying in nature and contact with close people. If the complaints are prolonged, they can lead to the appearance of various mental disorders, in which case it is advisable to seek professional help," says Vučeljić.
Support for patients and doctors in Oncology
Damira Murić, a health psychologist at the Institute of Oncology, says that the coronavirus caused some changes in the health care system, but not when it comes to the psychological treatment of oncology patients.
The goal of the treatment, as she said, is to reduce stress in patients undergoing therapy, in remission, and those who are just starting therapy. Because, she says, along with the diagnosis and going through the therapeutic process, stress additionally threatens to damage the individual's mental health.
"In order to achieve this, we use different strategies and approaches that lead to a change in behavior and acceptance of the newly created situation, as well as release from emotional charges," she said.
As a health psychologist, he adds, in addition to working with patients, he also provides support to colleagues from oncology.
"We have to take care of them too, they are only human and current challenges often exceed their capacity to overcome".
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
