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If you’re looking for support for someone else, check out the guidance on how you can help, depending on the situation
If you’re looking for support for someone else, check out the guidance on how you can help, depending on the situation
Bipolar disorder typically consists of both manic and depressive episodes separated by periods of normal mood. Manic episodes involve elevated or irritable mood, over-activity, pressure of speech, inflated self-esteem and a decreased need for sleep. People who have manic attacks but do not experience depressive episodes are also classified as having bipolar disorder.
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The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), launched the fourth National Awareness Campaign on Mental Health “Mental Health in the Workplace” with the slogan “Don’t miss the opportunity” “ما تضيعوا الفرصة”. The main objectives of the Mental Health in the Workplace initiative are to sensitize employers in Lebanon to improve mental health in their workplace, to engage employers in committing to promote mental health in their workplace and to increase the number of employers that are implementing changes at the level of policies and practices in their organization to improve mental health at the workplace. For more info on the campaign, check out the press release: here
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The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), launched the third National Awareness Campaign on Mental Health “Time_To_Talk” “صار_وقت_نحكي. The aim of the campaign is to encourage persons to speak about mental health anytime and anywhere and to encourage people to listen and support persons when they need to seek care. For more info on the campaign, check the press release link: here
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The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), launched the third National Awareness Campaign on Mental Health “Time_To_Talk” “صار_وقت_نحكي”. The aim of the campaign is to encourage persons to speak about mental health anytime and anywhere and to encourage people to listen and support persons when they need to seek care. The launching ceremony also featured live testimonies from two persons sharing their lived experience with mental disorders, Mr. Mahmoud Kebbe El Halabi and Ms. Leen Farhat. For more info on the campaign, check the press release link: here
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The video was released as part of the 2018 campaign "Time to Talk". It is a Q&A with mental health professionals. For more info on the campaign, check the press release link: here
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The Ministry of Public Health launched on April 7 the National Mental Health Campaign 2017 "Depression: Let's Talk About IT to Get Out of It" on the occasion of World Health Day. For more info on the campaign, check the press release link: here
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The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), launched the National Campaign for World Mental Health Day: “Mental health is my right” “صحتي النفسية حقي” in 2015. The video released as part of the campaign emphasizes through different professionals that mental health has a whole system in the country that is being geared to ensure equitable access to all to quality mental health services; and that all people have the right to consult and seek treatment. For more info on the campaign, check the press release link: here
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Worried about someone? Learn how to support them. Let them know you care and willing to listen Treat them with respect and dignity. Talk with them about their feelings. Suggest that they should speak to someone they feel comfortable with (their GP or other mental health professional). This may help them feel better. Offer assistance (i.e. find someone they trust talking with and make the appointment or arrange the meeting, and if they wish, be with them at the time). Share information sourced from a health professional or a self-help book with relevant strategies. Provide them with information to access e-mental health resources. Seek guidance from a health professional if their mental health deteriorates or you believe they are at risk of harming themselves or others. Identifying suicidal thoughts early on is important for prevention and treatment. If you know someone who is struggling with suicide, you may find the below tips useful. Speak Up If you feel a friend or a family member is at risk of harming themselves, ask them directly about it. Talking about suicide is not easy because suicide may be viewed as a taboo in our society. You can bring up the subject by saying something like: I have noticed that you have been different lately. I was wondering how you are doing. You haven’t seemed yourself lately. I wanted to check on you. When did these feelings begin? How can I support you right now? How can I be of any help? Have you thought about getting help? These feelings will change even though you may not believe it now. I care about you and I want to help you, even though I may not be able to know how you feel. When you feel you want to give up, ask yourself to hold on for just one more day, or hour, or minute, whatever you can manage. Encourage your friend to reach out to the national suicide prevention lifeline “1564-Embrace Lifeline."
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Just like for physical health disorders, there are effective treatments for mental disorders. Treatment plans can include medication and/or lifestyle changes and/or psychotherapy. Life style changes can promote recovery. These include for example a) getting enough sleep, b) participation in physical activities, c) participation in social activities that you enjoy, etc. Studies have shown that these changes in lifestyle are effective in prevention and in treatment of mental disorders. Psychotherapy can help the person understand the condition he/she is going through better and to develop his/her skills to cope with the life stressors and daily challenges. Medication can help in decreasing symptoms and accelerating recovery. There are different types of medication that have proven to be effective in treating mental disorders. They should be prescribed by the doctor only. How to get more help when needed: Talk with someone you trust: Most people feel better after they talk about their feelings with someone who cares about them. Talk with a licensed psychotherapist: He/she can help you by offering talk therapies which have been shown to be effective. Talk with your family doctor or psychiatrist: He/she can help diagnose the problem and initiate treatment. There are four types of mental health professionals (see image above), each having their own qualifications. Call the Embrace Lifeline 1564 for information above available services close to where you are.
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We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. And there is no health without mental health. "Mental health is a state of wellbeing where every individual realizes his or her own potential. Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. As such, we realize that the mental health of one person touches all those around him or her. Our mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, establish and maintain relationships with others, work productively and make choices." Mental health, like physical health, can fluctuate on a spectrum from good to poor. We encounter protective factors and risk factors in our personal and professional life that impact our health. When we have more risk factors than protective ones, we may experience ill-mental health or a mental disorder. One in four persons will go through a mental disorder at any point in their lives. Extra resources: WHO: Introduction to Mental Health
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition related to experiencing distress after living through or witnessing a dangerous or life-threatening event due to which you feel afraid and nervous for weeks and months after the event has occurred. It can happen to anyone, even children. Post-traumatic stress disorder can happen to anyone, even children. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated and it is important to visit your healthcare provider to help you get back to your usual activities faster.
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Is your substance use becoming a concern to you or your loved ones? Have you ever tried to stop using substances and failed? Have you used substances to self-medicate? Are you having trouble completing daily responsibilities like working, doing housework, studying, or caring for yourself? Have you ever been injured or experienced an accident because of using substances? Do you feel an uncontrollable urge to use a substance that won’t go away until you do? If you answered yes to any of the above, you might be suffering from a substance use disorder. Let us help you know what you can do. Substance use disorders are health conditions that include the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, which can lead to dependence. Psychoactive substances are substances that cause an alteration to the mental processes (thinking, mood, etc.) when taken, ingested, or administered. Psychoactive substances include legal (coffee, alcohol, tobacco, medication) and illegal substances (cannabis, heroin, cocaine, etc.). Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of the substance leads to health problems as well as to the inability to fulfil major responsibilities at work, school, or home. The overuse of substances leads to detrimental effects on the person's physical and mental health and might lead to addiction. The harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths worldwide each year. The exact causes of substance use disorders are not known. It is an interaction among many factors such as genes, emotional distress, and mental disorders such as depression, etc. Reasons often cited include: To feel relaxed and calm To feel happy To relieve pain To cope with stress To feel more confident in social situations Peer pressure Misconceptions Desire to experience something new Persons with substance use disorders often need support and assistance to begin the journey towards abstinence. It is not a personal choice to keep using addictive substances. Addiction is marked by observable and predictable changes in the brain, which make it difficult to quit using. With this in mind, it is easier not to judge. How can substance use disorders be treated? Psychosocial support Adopting strategies for reducing and stopping use Ensuring proper housing, employment and a supportive social network Facilitating access to community support services Providing support to carers and family members Teaching self-care tips Psychotherapy. Psychotherapies which have been proven to be effective include: Psychoeducation, Motivational Interviewing, mutual help groups and other therapies. Pharmacological treatment Medication can sometimes be used by trained medical doctors to support the person through the detoxification phase (the process of removing toxic substances from the body) or as a longer-term intervention. It is crucial to note that detoxification interventions must always be followed up by adequate rehabilitation programs to minimize the risk of overdose following following detoxification (due to a decreased tolerance level). Providing medical treatment for co-occuring medical conditions. It is possible to combine many of these options to achieve the best results. If you think you may have a susbstance use disorder, or you know someone who might have a substance use disorder, seek professional care as soon as possible. The earlier you seek treatment, the more effective it is. More resources: Anyone Can Become Addicted to Drugs (NIH)
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