Most people who experience mental health problems, especially those who get help early, recover fully and in cases of partial recovery, the patient lives with a controllable mental health condition.<\/p>\n
However, the strong social stigma and discrimination of people with mental health conditions become a deterrent for seeking help.<\/p>
The metro\u2019s acting manager for acute and chronic care, Patrick Magodzho, encouraged people not to suffer in silence and seek help as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health is not only limited to hallucinations or schizophrenia, which mostly occurs when mental illness is at an advanced stage.<\/p>
\u201cIt also includes mild mental health problems that most people suffer from without even being aware of or display easily noticeable behaviour traits,\u201d said Magodzho.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis makes it even more important for people to start having open conversations about mental health and to visit local clinics for mental screening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Magodzho further stated persistent headaches, and feelings of depression or being stressed, a change in eating patterns, and becoming anti-social and withdrawn are some of the indicators of mental health illness that family and friends can easily notice.<\/p>\n
In most cases of mental illness, there is no improvement without intervention, and if a patient is not treated, the condition may get worse over time and become acute.<\/p>\n
Residents are encouraged to visit their nearest primary care facilities or mental health specialist if they are displaying any signs of mental illness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Grant-in-Aid applications are open<\/a><\/p>\n Children taught the importance of good oral hygiene<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All primary healthcare facilities in the metro offer screening services for mental health.<\/p>\n After the screening process conducted by a professional nurse, based on the needs identified, an appropriate referral is made to a facility which renders secondary mental healthcare.<\/p>\n At the secondary mental healthcare level, a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) that consists of a psychologist, psychiatrist, social workers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists is available to assist the patient.<\/p>\n At this level, further assessment will be done and the outcomes will determine the appropriate management or interventions to be applied to assist the patient.<\/p>\n October is World Mental Health Month and October 10 will be commemorated as World Mental Health Day, to heighten global mental health education, awareness and advocacy.<\/p>\n This is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health to raise public awareness of mental health issues worldwide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n