Health Matters

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

Millions of people are pushing through what often feels like a struggle against themselves and millions more are trying to understand. But there’s a gap between those who understand and those who do not—awareness is the first step to closing that gap. Mental illness affects everybody regardless of race, colour, gender, age, or nationality. Some mental illnesses can be cured, while other conditions can be rehabilitated to sustain life and improve the quality of life. Outcome of treatment depends on early detection and intervention, proper follow-up, and rehabilitation.

Following the devastation of 2020 and the third Covid wave in 2021, employees are apprehensive about returning to the usual in-person office arrangement. The psychological impact of repeated lockdowns, coupled with the uncertainty of falling ill, and the lingering threat of personal demise, have contributed to a measurable level of anxiety among staff.

These issues will be addressed in a series of webinars designed around the dimensions of wellness. The webinars incorporate mindful living, healthy eating and fitness routines into people’s daily routines to facilitate healthy lifestyle changes.

If you do not experience mental health issues yourself, you likely know at least one person who does and if you do struggle from any mental health disorders, remember you are not alone.

Topic: Mindfulness and Resilience

In a world that is becoming increasingly complex and demanding resilience is becoming an essential life skill. Resilience is the capacity to cope well with life’s inevitable challenges and disasters, to meet the stressors and storms of life with adaptive and skillful responses. Research reveals that mindfulness can help us develop greater resilience – but how?

Presented by: Iani de Kock Clinical Psychologist, Being Well Psychologists

Topic: Mental fitness techniques for wellbeing

How often have you challenged your brain since you were in a classroom? Science and health experts say that you should exercise your brain on a daily basis; very similar to the advice for keeping up your physical fitness. For those who are concerned with the changes in mental dexterity that come with age, engaging in daily mental fitness exercises is a great way to keep your brain healthy.

Presented by: Iani de Kock Clinical Psychologist, Being Well Psychologists

Topic: 30 Minutes of breath work for focus and a brief guided meditation

“Breathwork has been shown to increase parasympathetic activity, heart rate variability, physiological flexibility, and is one of the greatest tools I have in my medical toolbox to help individuals manage stress, which has become an epidemic in our society.” says Mark Hyman, M.D. and best-selling author.

Presented by: Suzi Seha Qualified Yoga teacher and Reiki Master

Supporting Expert Articles

This is a comprehensive collection of guides covering many aspects necessary for a healthy mind and body. Learn about everything from how to improve your diet right through to latest neuroscience techniques. Benefit from the convenience of accessing this wealth of information anywhere where you have an active internet connection. Click on the articles below and enjoy reading!

Mental Health Awareness and Mental Disorders

As of 2017, more than 792 million people or roughly 10.7% of the global population suffer from mental health disorders. A study released by the Health Ministry in 2018 concluded that Namibia has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, ranked fourth in Africa and eleventh globally. The Covid-19 pandemic only exacerbated this epidemic. If you do not experience mental health issues yourself, you likely know at least one person who does.

4 Benefits of breath awareness and why practicing it matters.

A person typically takes between 17,000 and 30,000 breaths per day, every day. Bring your attention to this normal occurrence for a few minutes daily for health benefits. And, pausing for a 2-minute breathing break is a great way to enjoy a quick refresher in the middle of a hectic day, especially if it’s a work from home day.

Forging Resiliency in Challenging Times

Emerging data have shown how significant the impact of the pandemic has been on our well-being. For example, we know that working mothers have experienced extreme levels of hardship through COVID and had to take on more than working dads, regarding household, childcare, and educational needs. A global study of health care workers across 21 countries shows alarmingly high rates of depression, anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for those working in health care through the first waves of COVID.

Interactive Activities

Fun activities you can participate in! These help ‘lock-in’ many important wellbeing techniques to use in your daily life. Designed to only take a few minutes per day, these activities use proven methodology to get you thinking, moving and focusing on your wellbeing. Click below and let’s practice!

Practising conscious breathing is good for you

Exercise 1: Awareness of breath Learn the technique of conscious breathing, it simply means that you are paying attention or observing your breath. It is a valuable practice with many benefits.

Exercise 2: 1:2 Ratio Use this breath when you are feeling anxious, nervous, over excited, or worried. It is useful to do when you can’t sleep at night. It is a wonderful breath to use in anger management in both adults and children. Giving you time to pause, calm down and respond rather than react.

Exercise 3: Square or box breathing This breath is very calming and balances the nervous system.Try to practice for up to 10 minutes a day!

Exercise 4: Bumble bee breath This technique is a wonderful breath to include in a wellness program when recovering from Covid. It is also fantastic to use to build up resilience before you get Covid, due to the increased production of nitric oxide while humming.