The Role of Healthcare Professionals in the Management of Mental Health Disorders-
- Polelo Mawela
- Jan 14, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 4, 2023
'Taking it from an “I” problem to an “OUR” problem'
Mental Health Awareness Month was created to educate Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) and the public about: (1) mental health conditions; (2) raise awareness surrounding research and treatments; (3) reduce stigma and (4) celebrate recovery from mental illness. Due to the misconceptions and stigma attached, individuals often try to manage their condition by themselves and do not seek treatment and support for their conditions. This is a pertinent area where HCPs can make a difference.
Mental Health Awareness Month also provides an additional opportunity for fundraising, outreach, and awareness events. This, in turn, can help support research, fund treatment options, and connect advocates to create a brighter, more promising future for mental health care.
The Role of Health Care Professionals in Mental Health Education
The HCP plays a critical role in the management of individuals suffering from a mental health disorder. It is equally important to advise and educate the public to recognise (early) signs and symptoms and promote overall health.
One example is launching public awareness campaigns and openly speaking about what a mental health disorder is and how it is presented. This will result in decreasing the stigma attached to mental health disorders.
People with mental health disorders require social support, including support in developing and maintaining personal, family, and social relationships. Such individuals may also need support for educational programmes, employment, housing, and participation in other meaningful activities.
Some guidelines for Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) when dealing with Mental Health Disorders
Below are some guidelines to consider when discussing mental health disorders, e.g., during mental wellbeing awareness campaigns and when interacting with individuals suffering from mental health disorders. In some of the cases the role of the HCP is both active (when directly interacting with individuals suffering from a mental health disorder) and/or passive (informing persons close to an individual suffering of a mental health disorder and during campaigns).
Prevention Points to Ponder on. (Active role)
Advising the individual to take control of the symptoms such as controlling stress, increasing resilience, and boosting low self-esteem.
Being aware of warning signs, triggers and when the disorder present itself.
Reminding individuals to take good care of themselves, e.g., following good sleeping hygiene patterns, eating healthily, and getting exercise.
Seeking Medical help or Support a Loved One (Active and Passive Role)
Professional help should be sought upon noticing any symptoms of mental health disorders or when an individual has suicidal thoughts.
When noticing symptoms of a mental health disorder it is best to have an open discussion with them. Matters such as requesting them to seek professional medical help; offering support; encouragement; offering to make an appointment with a medical professional; and giving them support by accompanying them to the appointment is of great value. Here the HCP can play an important role, not only with the individual alone, but also being part of a multi-disciplinary medical team.
Never underestimate the importance for seeking medical help when the individual harms themselves or have made statements that they are considering doing so.
Identifying People to Talk to and Provide Support (Active and Passive role)
Stress the importance to establish key individuals who can provide support in a time of need. Here the role of the HCP cannot be stressed enough. Advice for identifying an individual suffering from a mental health disorder can include, but is not limited to:
Someone who the individual trusts, such as a HCP, family member, friend, church leader, or work resource.
Someone who can listen without judgement when expressing thoughts and feelings about their mental wellbeing.
Someone who can provide reliable support in trying times.
Someone who will keep the information shared confidential.
Someone who will provide support and concern regarding mental health wellbeing.
Treatment, Health Promotion and Care Strategies to Address Mental Health in the Elderly
The elderly is a special population that needs extra attention and support when suffering from a mental health disorder. Here the HCP can play an integral part both as individuals, as well as part of a multi-disciplinary medical team.
Global Statistics
Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double, from 12% to 22%.
Approximately 15% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental health disorder.
Mental health and well-being are as important in older age as at any other time of life.
Mental and neurological disorders among older adults account for 6.6% of the total disability for this age group.
Mental health care for the elderly can be improved through promoting active and healthy ageing. This involves creating living conditions and environments which support wellbeing and allow people to lead a healthy life. Promoting the understanding of mental health depends largely on strategies to ensure that the elderly have the necessary resources to meet their needs.
It is important to prepare HCPs and societies to meet the specific needs of older populations, including:
Training for HCPs in providing care for the elderly.
Preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases including mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
Designing sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care.
Developing age-friendly services and settings.
Training all HCPs in working with issues and disorders related to ageing is therefore important. Effective, community-level primary (mental) health care for the elderly is also crucial and noteworthy. It is equally important to focus on the long-term care of the elderly suffering from mental health disorders, as well as to provide caregivers with education, training, and support.
Mental health disorders are a pertinent group of health conditions that need the active participation of the HCP, the patient, and his/her family.
This condition has a stigma attached to it which needs addressing. Public health initiatives and campaigns can raise awareness of these conditions which can result in a better understanding of the implicated disorder(s) and aid in the effective management thereof.
Useful sources of information and helplines to share
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): https://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=114, Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TheSADAG/, Contact Centre: 0800 567 567 Twitter: @TheSADAG, Instagram: sadag_official
The Bipolar Battle Community: https://www.thebipolarbattle.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/
National Institute of Healthcare Compliance (NIHC): https://nihc.org/
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
National Department of Health (NDoH): https://www.health.gov.za/
Resources
National Department of Health (NDoH), Mental Health Awareness Month 2020, 1 to 31 October. https://www.gov.za/MentalHealthAwarenessMonth2020 - accessed: 09 October2022
Discovery, Mental Health Awareness is vital year-round, https://www.discovery.co.za/corporate/health-mental-health-awareness-is-vital-year-round - accessed: 9 October 2022
Lifespan, The Importance of Mental Health Awareness Month Lifespan Blog Team, April 26, 2022, https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/importance-mental-health-awareness-month - accessed: 9 October 2022
Lifespan, Tips for Talking About Your Mental Health Lifespan Blog Team, May 10, 2022, https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/tips-talking-about-your-mental-health - accessed: 09 October 2022
United Nations (UN), Understanding mental health, https://www.un.org/en/healthy-workforce/files/Understanding%20Mental%20Health.pdf - accessed: 09 October 2022
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Awareness Resources, https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Awareness-Resources - accessed: 09 October 2022
World Health Organization (WHO), World Mental Health Day 2022 https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2022 - accessed: 09 October 2022
World Health Organization (WHO), Mental well-being: resources for the public, https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/mental-well-being-resources-for-the-public - accessed: 10 October 2022
World Health Organization (WHO). Adolescent mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health - accessed: 10 October 2022
World Health Organization (WHO). Mental health of older adults, 12 December 2017. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults - accessed: 10 October 2022
World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Statistics, https://www.who.int/data/gho/publications/world-health-statistics - accessed: 10 October 2022
World Mental Health Day, Make Mental Health and Well-being for All A Global Priority. https://wmhdofficial.com/ - accessed: 10 October 2022
Centers for the Control of Disease and Prevention (CDC). National Centre for Health Statistics. Mental Health.https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm accessed: 10 October 2022
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ accessed: 11 October 2022
Veazey K. 2022, April 29. Mental health Awareness Month 2022: What to know. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/may-is-mental-health-awareness-month – accessed: 09 October 2022
Compiler: Dr. Liesl Brown, Ph.D., B Square Synergy Consultants
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