Mental health refers to our cognitive and emotional well-being. It is about how we think, feel and behave. Having mental health implies also absence of a mental disorder.
Mental health requires community leaders and individuals ready to be counted upon
Statistics show that Western countries have high prevalence of mental health problems, with the United States topping the list. A highly stressful lifestyle, together with limited space and time for each other on an emotional level, may be some of the contributing factors to this painful reality.
Your mental health can affect your daily life, relationships and even physical health. Mental health also includes a person’s ability to enjoy life – to attain a balance between daily activities and a human’s resilience to succeed and move on, despite all hurdles.
According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is not “just the absence of mental disorder” but also one’s potential to realise own abilities: an ability to cope with normal daily stresses, work productively and is able to contribute to one’s own community.
Experts say we all have the potential for suffering from mental health problems, no matter who we are, how old, whether we are male or female, rich or poor.
Common mental illnesses that are often seen in Malta include anxiety disorders (phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder), mood disorders (such as major depression and bipolar disorder) and schizophrenia disorders, among others.
Besides medication and psychotherapy, treatments and strategies for mental health problems include both positive methods (such as self-help initiatives, exercise, diet, positive outlook on life, healthy lifestyle) and unhealthy ones (substance abuse or addictions).
Education and social support are key in the holistic approach of treatment involved. Thus, what better way to contribute towards a sound mental health than by being a protagonist yourself in the profession?
A number of potential avenues exist in our country, one of which is that of becoming a professional psychiatric nurse.
The Faculty of Health Sciences within the University of Malta offers a programme of studies that leads to a B.Sc. (Hons) degree course in mental health nursing. This is a three-year programme that offers a hands-on approach in helping people who are mentally challenged to cope with their situation, strive towards their human potential and/or be able to move on with their lives in an independent way as much as possible.
Some of the activities of the psychiatric nurse are providing a safe therapeutic milieu, working with patients or clients on the real day-to-day problems they face, identifying and caring for the physical aspects of the patient’s problems, including drug therapy reactions, providing leadership and clinical assistance for other nurses and healthcare workers.
Psychiatric nurses work in many settings. Their responsibilities vary with the setting and with the level of expertise, experience and training of the individual nurse.
If you wish to make a difference towards mental health, consider this offer (for yourself and others) as a challenge worth the personal sacrifice and commitment.
Mental health requires community leaders and individuals ready to be counted upon… like you.
mgalea00@yahoo.com
Michael Galea is a lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Malta.