marks Psychiatric Disability Awareness Month

We closed off with Maleeka Mokallik - Public Relations and Communications Manager for Cape Mental Health Society. We were talking about psychiatric disability. July marks Psychiatric Disability Awareness Month and it is reported that between 1% and 3% of the South African population are likely to suffer from a mental health problem severe enough to require hospitalisation. The month raises awareness about mental illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder and also draws attention to suicide, which is predominately precipitated by some mental illness.  According to the Cape Mental Health Society Psychiatric Disabilities are mental and emotional disorders that impair people’s ability to cope with their feelings and with the demands of the outside world. Its characterised by varying degrees of inappropriate behaviour, communication and understanding, and being out of touch with reality at times. It affects anyone and generally starts in adolescence or adult life (though there are exceptions) as the onset can be sudden or gradual, and the illness can be acute, chronic or intermittent. There can be a good chance of recovery from a mental illness, following appropriate treatment and support from special day centres, hospitals and rehabilitation groups. Even with medication though, some patients continue to experience unpleasant symptoms and deterioration in their ability to function properly. For further information you can contact the Cape Mental Health Society on (021) 447 2416 or visit www.capementalhealth.co.za

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rudy van Dieman to summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage

Image
Rudy van Dieman, who has partnered with Angels South Africa, an organisation based in Colorado Park, Mitchells Plain, will summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage. Angels SA wants to purchase a house that will become a safe house for children. ‘’Farieda Moses, [Founder of AngelsSA] has been a role model to me since I knew her. She took us on a camp and we stayed in contact after that ,and we done various charity work together. Just her will, and her strength that I see in her - she wants to make such a big change, but don’t have the necessary tools, so it will take years to fund her dream, and I came up with the crazy idea to give it a year and do my part to raise those funds and build that house,’’ said van Dieman. He aims to raise R1 Million through backabuddy https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/angels-sa-project-365 PICTURED: Rudy van Dieman Sakhi Sizwe · Rudy Van Dieman summits Table Mountain to raise funds to
Read more

FAST Prep - An Innovative method to help stop the spread of HIV and enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Image
The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a registered non-profit company established in association with the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, an accredited research centre within the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT). Through their dedication to innovation, quality, and humanity, they hope to mitigate the effects of the HIV epidemic on people, families, and communities. Their mission is to achieve the highest standards in HIV research, treatment, and prevention in South Africa.                  Educating us a little bit more about the work that is done at Desmond Tutu Health foundation in educating and providing health services of FASTPrEP in terms of HIV Prevention as well as HIV Treatment and other related infections is Mbali Jonas as well as Ntando FAST Prep:  Is an acronym for Foreskin and Mucosal Tissue Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is specifically designed to target areas where HIV can spread, particularly in high-risk populations. By using this method, the a
Read more

Winter having an effect on Bloodstocks

Image
The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is appealing to all donors to donate blood as blood stocks are critically low. “The winter is having a severe effect on our bloodstocks and we are amidst a severe blood stock shortage”, says Marike Carli, Public Relations Manager at WCBS. There is a critical shortage in the O and B blood groups, with only a 2-day supply left. The A-positive blood stocks are also under severe pressure as only a 3-day supply is left. WCBS always aim to have a blood stock level of 5 days. The winter weather is not conducive to going out, and with the continuing storms in Cape Town, they are seeing the effects on their blood stocks. Blood donors suffer from colds and flu during this time and can subsequently not donate blood – up until the resolution of their symptoms . Click on the video below to here more: Presenter: Jasnine Roberts Producer: Lydia M
Read more