Looking after your Mental Health

1. Looking after your Mental Health Dr. John Hillery Consultant Psychiatrist

2. No Health without Mental Health Poor mental health effects: • Social Functioning • Cognitive Functioning • Work Functioning • Bodies Resistance • Bodies Recovery Capacity • Society

3. Mental Health Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. WHO

4. Mental Health A Continuum Healthy ------- Discomfort -------- Ill Health -------- Illness

5. Anxiety & Performance

6. Mental Health & Cancer • Direct Relationship Not Proven • Indirect Links • Effect on Course of Illness

7. Cancer & Mental Health • Adjustment Disorder • Panic Disorder • Phobias • Obsessive- compulsive Disorder • Post Traumatic Stress disorder • Generalised Anxiety Disorder • Anxiety Disorder caused by other Medical Conditions • Depression

8. What to do?Promoting Your Mental Health • Look after your basic needs first: Eat & Sleep • Listen to your body & use your breathing • Have the courage to be imperfect & set realistic goals • Alcohol in moderation & responsibly www.mentalhealthireland.ie www.psihq.ie http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie/minding_your_mental_health

9. What to do?Promoting Your Mental Health • Take time out for yourself, lose yourself • Sign up for that course, join that club, volunteer • Be active everyday in as many ways as you can • Spend time with people who make you feel good www.mentalhealthireland.ie www.psihq.ie http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie/minding_your_mental_health

10. What to do?Promoting Your Mental Health • Laugh out loud each day • Share the work-load, get everyone involved • Try to be positive and focus on things you can control • Think about how you think • Talk about your troubles and seek help early www.mentalhealthireland.ie www.psihq.ie http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie/minding_your_mental_health

11. What to do?Preventing Ill Health • Watch Your Physical Health Diet Habits Exercise Life Balance • Changing Mindsets Meditation http://www.tm-ireland.org/ Mindfullness http://www.mindfulness.com/ Reframing Thoughts http://www.themindgym.com/

12. Recognising Illness The experiencing of severe and distressing psychological symptoms to the extent that normal functioning is seriously impaired. http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/information

13. Recognising Depression • Having a depressed mood for most of the day and on most days. • Loss of pleasure and interest in most activities. • Changes in eating and sleeping habits. • Nervousness or sluggishness. • Tiredness. • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt. • Poor concentration. • Constant thoughts of death or suicide.

14. What to do?Treating Illness • Getting help • Medical Assessment • Listening • Counselling • Psychotherapy • Medication • Recovery Approach

15. What to Do?Helping Others • Listen. • Facilitate Involvement. • Encourage. • Don’t Preach. • Recognise Limits.

16. Take Away • Be Proactive. • Depression is not a given. • If in doubt talk it out. • Recovery is the aim.