By Louisa Devadson
About our guest panellists:
Sanam is a Research Officer within the Policy and Epidemiology Group of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. Her current major projects at QCMHR include an evaluation of the Multicultural Psychological Therapies Program at the World Wellness Group and an evaluation of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Suicide Prevention Project being developed by the Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre (QTMHC).
Fiona is the Program Facilitator at The Optimal Health program. OHP is designed to explore the origin of wellbeing within every person and support the person to develop the necessary skills to maintain hope and self-agency in the face of life's challenges. For the last 10 years, Fiona has been delivering wellbeing program to individuals with persistent and severe mental ill-health.
CW: Mental health, suicide, and depression.
Our fantastic OWP facilitators, Ishara and Gabriella, led a discussion with on mental health, toxic relationships and spaces, and resilience and hope. We had the pleasure of hearing from two women accomplishing great things in the field, Sanam Ahmadzada and Fiona Terry.
A growing global issue
Sanam shared WHO's definition of mental health as defined as a 'state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her [or their] own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to her or his [or their] community.'
Mental illness is a growing public health concern. Depressive disorders alone are the 3rd largest contributor to disability worldwide. Gabriella shared that a large body of research has also identified social inequalities in mental health across multiple dimensions of inequality, such as socioeconomic position, gender and sexual orientation, among many other intersections.
Attendees shared that the cost of seeking mental health support was a significant obstacle. Additionally, the stigma that persists when it comes to mental health issues. "Fear aligns closely with stigma," shared Fiona. "The fear of making yourself vulnerable in this society and saying, 'Actually, I'm not OK. I don't fit in'". Globally, healthcare policies and regulations vary greatly and can sometimes make reaching out more distressing than not – as shared by one attendee.
Mental health initiatives
Fiona believes mental health awareness days are wonderful but would like to see more progression around mental health education and movements to destigmatise seeking help. She adds that knowledge of mental health ‘first aid' is crucial because we ask, 'R U OK?' – we need to be equipped to respond meaningfully to what is shared.
Fiona and Sanam agreed that a key takeaway for anyone who is or knows someone who may be struggling with mental wellness is learning to pay attention to physical and behavioural indicators. Changes in activity, sleeping, eating – any significant shift from things that matter to you – is a sign you might need to check in with yourself or someone else. Fiona recommends just gently pointing out to them that they just don't seem like themselves – to begin a discussion on what's going on.
Diversifying mental wellness
To make services more meaningful and accessible to BIPOC communities, Sanam says, "There is definitely a structural change that needs to happen… learning and understanding more from people with lived experiences from the communities themselves is really important." She emphasised the importance of acknowledging the social determinants of mental health. She highlighted marginalisation, socio-cultural taboos, housing insecurity and intergenerational trauma as recurring themes among asylum seekers she's spoken with through her research. In many of these instances, coping skills and capacity building can only do so much without greater structural change. So, she advocates for a more holistic approach.
Self-care and sticking together in hard times
Sanam recommends taking a step back as a necessary coping strategy she personally uses to alleviate the tension and anxiety that has been intensified during COVID-19. There is so much happening demanding our attention and our voice, but we must remember that you cannot really be the most helpful if you are burnt out. She says the longer you persist with burn out – the longer you spend trying to pick yourself up and recuperating. So be gentle to yourself and take a few days off to recharge and give yourself some rest.
Fiona adds that self-care can be small daily steps we take. Slow mornings, time with pets, five minutes of self-pampering or taking a little time to connect with someone you trust. "Know what nurtures you," she shared. "You don't have to fix yourself or anybody because we're not broken – no one's broken."
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