Description: In Episode 168 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast review the basic principles of behavior modification including reinforcement, punishment, extinction bursts and behavior strain (and how to prevent it). Listen or find the associated CEU course at https://allceus.com/counselortoolbox Pinned to Addiction Counselor Training on Pinterest
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1/10/2020 0 Comments Mental Health Around The WorldWe speak to six people from across the globe about their personal experiences with mental health, the options that are available to them, and the goals they are working towardsNo matter where we’re from or what we do, mental illness has the potential to touch us and our loved ones throughout our lives. According to the Global Burden of Disease, 13% of the global population lives with a mental disorder – that’s approximately 971 million people. It’s something that unites us across borders, but no one person’s experience with mental health will be the same as another’s – and that’s especially true when we consider how the levels of support and stigma varies so drastically around the world. It’s time to escape our respective bubbles and get a fresh perspective on the state of mental health care across the continents. Here, we speak to six people from around the world to find out about their personal experiences, and to learn more about what it really means to live with mental illness in 2020. Anita in Nigeria“My experience with mental health issues has been tough and sad – having family and friends not accept me for who I am during crisis, and an identity where I am seen as a ‘mad’ and ‘possessed’ human being,” Anita Ikwue explains. For Anita, being open about her mental health came with challenges from those in her family and her wider community. “Most of them are hearing something like this for the first time, and usually have a negative impression of mental health problems,” she says. “Some would be interested to know more about mental health. Others would say terrible things like ‘mad people’. For me, this means people are speaking from an ignorant angle, and they just need to be more educated.” Luckily, Anita was able to find support with local organisations, including the Gede Foundation, Global Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS, and Time to Change Global, where she is now a ‘champion’ – helping to reach out to others. “The positive thing in my community is that some people are interested in learning more from people with lived experience of mental health problems,” Anita explains. “Most people have little or no knowledge about mental health and its related challenges. But myths and misconceptions are being addressed, and sharing life stories is helping a lot, and will go a long way.” David in SwedenDavid Brudö has experienced bouts of depression since his teens, but it wasn’t until later in life – when things became unbearable – that he decided to reach out for help. David notes how, in recent years, more people in Sweden have been willing to talk about mental health openly – yet he still feared colleagues and family would view him as “weak”. “While people are more willing to speak about, for example, stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness, mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are still not spoken about as openly,” David explains. “But it’s not unusual to see Nordic countries topping the World Happiness Report. And while Sweden has historically been concerned with one of the highest suicide rates since the 1960s, it now has one of the lowest suicide rates in the world.” As way of explaining these stats, David points to the introduction of the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team – a dedicated mental health care ambulance that is being piloted in Stockholm – as well as Swedish values such as ‘fika’ which is a midday pause to socialise with friends and colleagues, and ‘friluftsliv’, the value of spending time outdoors. Today, David is the CEO and co-founder of mental health and self-development app Remente, and he sees prevention rather than treatment as the key to better overall health. “We will not be able to solve all mental health issues overnight, but it is important to make sure that all walks of life are provided with the right attention and support, to ensure that we continue to see the numbers of suicides decrease, and happiness rates increase.” Venkatesh in IndiaVenkatesh N. was living with his wife and three children in Doddaballapura when depression gradually began taking over his life. After his brother died, things took a turn for the worse and Venkatesh started to isolate himself, and eventually stopped going to work. “I was getting older and losing strength, which added to my worries,” says Venkatesh. “Owing to my mental illness, I was struggling to find work. Finally, when I got in touch with medical assistance, my life improved.” Venkatesh reached out to a local organisation called GASS (Grameena Abyudaya Seva Samsthe), a community-based rehabilitation service. “They helped me in raising my confidence, finding work, and leading a good life. I opened a shop and managed to educate my children well.” While Venkatesh notes that reactions to his experience have ranged from pity to apathy, today he writes poems to express the things that he has been through, and to engage his community in the mental health conversation. Raquel in MexicoIn January 2019, Raquel Contreras Soberanis was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. But her journey to find support wasn’t an easy one. “In my country, it is very normal to feel discriminated against,” Raquel explains. “People with mental health problems, instead of seeking medical attention, try all sorts of things – such as trying harder, going out, even turning to witchcraft – anything but going to a psychiatrist. “In my country, we don’t have access to free mental health treatment or support,” Raquel continues. “You need to pay for your own psychologist. Although there are a lot of good doctors available here, the average person on a normal salary, unfortunately, can’t afford it.” As Raquel sees it, stoicism when it comes to mental health is something that is ingrained in her culture. “We have a saying here that’s the definition of the way that Mexican people battle problems: ‘Los Mexicanos lloramos riendo’ – the Mexican people cry laughing.” Sany in CanadaThe first time that Sany Guest experienced a major depressive episode was when she was travelling abroad in early adulthood – though reflecting on her childhood, she now realises that the things she was going through were directly linked to undiagnosed attention deficit disorder (ADD). Sany sought professional help at a walk-in clinic in 2018. After speaking about what she had been going through, Sany was prescribed antidepressants and referred to a free therapist, though at the time of writing she still hasn't had an appointment. “I may be a typical Canadian because I can’t afford anything but a free therapist without coverage, but I am also different because at least I can afford the wait,” Sany comments. “Positive movements and groups reducing stigma and promoting community support, inclusivity, and tolerance have been emerging – from Kids Help Phone, Bell Let’s Talk, and Get Real, to #MeToo. To me, this is proof of a society sobering to the fact that mental health is largely responsible for overall health, and must be treated with seriousness. “But none of these points of hope would be possible without free speech and democracy,” Sany notes. “Canadians are privileged to freely debate and vote on how society must improve without fear of serious negative legal and social repercussions.” Edwin in Kenya“I took my first drink in 2003 – there were these cheap sachets of alcohol that were available back then,” Edwin Mburu explains. “My first drink turned into an addiction for 12 years, yet I was oblivious to the fact I was self-medicating two mental illnesses.” In 2011, Edwin attempted suicide. Four years later he was admitted to rehab where he was eventually diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. Since then, Edwin has been on the road to recovery, driven by his personal support system as well as local support groups. He also notes a supportive employer where he works as an accountant, and points to a blossoming art community in Kenya, who are speaking up about their mental health, as well as positive amendments to the mental health bill. Overall, Edwin says, the reaction to his mental health problems has been a “mixed bag”. “People listen and ask questions, and some even share their own experiences with mental health issues,” he explains. “This is usually very motivating – it makes me realise the power of sharing experiences, and gives me hope that the stigma attached to mental health issues is being broken, brick by brick. “However, at times the engagements are stigmatising and very negative. I have realised that mostly this happens because of ignorance with regards to mental health issues. It can be demoralising, but it reminds me of the bigger picture, and gives me the courage to continue talking about mental health.” From small, localised movements empowering people to reach out to others, to national initiatives that put policy in place to support those who are struggling, there’s a lot we can learn from taking a step back and considering a different way of doing things. But there’s still a long way to go, and it won’t always be an easy journey. But we all benefit when everyone in our community is supported, and so often compassion ripples out further than we anticipated. We’re in this together, and united we can make a change. Read more personal stories from around the world. Time to Change GlobalA global anti-stigma campaign that works in low and middle-income countries, Time to Change Global is working with Christian Blind Mission UK, local partners, and people with experience of mental health problems to challenge damaging stereotypes and discrimination. Inspired by the power of personal stories, ‘Champions’ are people who are speaking up about their experiences in the hope they will inspire, and bring comfort to, others in their communities. Find out more at time-to-change.org.uk/global Via https://happiful.com/mental-health-around-the-world/ Going to the cinema? New research reveals cultural experiences like the cinema can boost memory, focus and creativityIf you haven’t made plans for this weekend yet, it’s worth checking out the latest showings at your local cinema because, according to new research, a trip to the cinema can actually be good for us - mentally and physically. Released today by Vue and University College London (UCL), findings revealed that we can reap fascinating benefits by spending a few hours behind the big screen. Not only can heading to the cinema help us unwind and immerse ourselves fully into a new on-screen universe, but help us step away from the mounting pressure of being constantly online and ‘present’. Through an academic experiment conducted by UCL’s Faculty of Experimental Psychology, a group of volunteers were tested with biometric sensors to see what happens to our minds and bodies during a two-hour film screening. One group watched the 2019 live action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin, while another acted as the control group, taking part in a comparable task of reading a novel for the same amount of time. The data showed a noticeable increase in participants’ heart rates during the film, with viewers in the healthy heart-zone for 45 minutes (equivalent to a light form of cardio). However, as viewers watched the film, their heart rates became more closely aligned - often beating in unison. Skin conductance tests also showed that certain events in the film triggered an increase in emotional arousal levels. In a world where it is increasingly difficult to step away from our devices, this level of sustained focus is good for us Secondary research suggests that it is three unique elements of the cinema experience that drove the findings; the focused activity, the shared social focus, and the cultural element. Further analysis by UCL demonstrates these elements have proven long-term benefits on our overall brain function, including memory, focus and productivity. “Cultural experiences like going to the cinema provide opportunities for our brain to devote our undivided attention for sustained periods of time. At the cinema specifically, there is nothing else to do except immerse yourself,” explained Dr Joseph Delvin, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL. “On top of this, our ability to sustain focus and attention plays a critical role in building our mental resilience, because problem-solving typically requires a concentrated effort to overcome obstacles. In other words, our ability to work through problems without distraction makes us better able to solve problems and makes us more productive. “In a world where it is increasingly difficult to step away from our devices, this level of sustained focus is good for us.” And it’s not just the experience of going to the cinema that offers these benefits. Activities with a shared social focus have been proven to boost our creativity, team performance and ability to bond with others, as well as reducing feelings of loneliness and depression. As Tanya Goodin, Founder of Time to Log Off explains: “One of the symptoms of our smartphone-fixated culture is that we’re increasingly retreating into solitary experiences on our devices. It can hardly be surprising then that loneliness is on the rise for all age groups. One of the antidotes to this is a shared big screen experience, which has the power to bond us in a way that solitary screening never will. “On top of this, through smartphone culture we’ve become more connected than ever and multitasking on many devices - or media-multitasking - has become the norm. While we often think this is productive, all the evidence shows this actually slows our brain’s performance down and lowers our IQ. “For years, psychologists have known the positive effects of being completely immersed in an absorbing experience, or a ‘flow’ state. It’s restful and rejuvenating for our over-stimulated brains and it’s an experience exactly like getting lost in a film on the big screen.” Of course, we’re all aware of the benefits that switching off can have on our mental health, but the cinema specifically is one of the only places left where you can step away from devices and truly switch off from the outside world. While it’s easy to switch on your TV and half-watch, half-scroll through a film or television series, there’s nothing quite like grabbing a bag of popcorn and heading to the cinema - whether with friends, family or on your own - for some time to truly unwind and immerse yourself into a whole new adventure. The findings come as Vue launches manifesto film, Get Lost. Aiming to show viewers just how valuable it is to get lost in a great story, it is a precious and necessary escapism that enriches our everyday lives. Via https://happiful.com/new-research-reveals-benefits-of-cinema/
Description: Check out these great anger management resources including a 10 Session Anger Management Protocol, Anger Management Tools and Exploring the Many Facets of Anger in these YouTube videos https://www.youtube.com/user/allceuseducation/search?query=anger Pinned to general counseling & therapy pins on Pinterest
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Description: Easily subscribe (it's free) to Counselor Toolbox Podcast using this smartURL https://pod.link/1120947649 Pinned to Addiction Counselor Training on Pinterest
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Description: Learn about how to develop (and maintain) momentum in therapeutic relationships in episode 167 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast,available on any podcast player https://pod.link/1120947649 or on youtube at https://youtube.com/allceuseducation Pinned to Addiction Counselor Training on Pinterest
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Description: Learn about how to develop (and maintain) momentum in therapeutic relationships in episode 167 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast,available on any podcast player https://pod.link/1120947649 or on youtube at https://youtube.com/allceuseducation Pinned to general counseling & therapy pins on Pinterest
Found on: #DrDawnEliseSnipes #CounselorToolbox #FLR
Description: Some things make you more vulnerable to emotional distress. Learn how addressing exhaustion, poor nutrition, poor time management and chronic pain or illness can help you be happier in Episode 101 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast https://www.allceus.com/counselortoolbox/ Pinned to Addiction Counselor Training on Pinterest
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Description: Some things make you more vulnerable to emotional distress. Learn how addressing exhaustion, poor nutrition, poor time management and chronic pain or illness can help you be happier in Episode 101 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast https://www.allceus.com/counselortoolbox/ Pinned to general counseling & therapy pins on Pinterest
Found on: #DrDawnEliseSnipes #CounselorToolbox #FLR
Description: Explore the components of Trauma Focused CBT and their intended functions including psychoeducation, coping skills, stress management, trauma narrative, cognitive processing, behavior management and child-parent sessions. https://youtu.be/bTnXa4E9_rs Pinned to general counseling & therapy pins on Pinterest
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