Borneo Bulletin Article - Mental health: Is it really all in the mind?

By Dr Ramli Hassan, Specialist & Head of Psychiatric Services (Taken from Borneo Bulletin Weekend 22nd October 2011)

World Mental Health Day is celebrated throughout the world on October 10 of every year.

For 2011, the theme chosen by the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) is "The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health". This theme emphasises the importance of mental health at all levels of society and the importance of investing resources to ensure the maintenance of optimal mental health in all the members of a society.

The number of people suffering from mental illness in the community is large. In general, the rate of mental illness is higher in the more developed and urbanised societies as compared with the developing and less urbanised societies.

For example, in the United States, Europe and Japan, one in every four adults has some form of mental illness requiring treatment. This rate is lower in the less developed societies such as Malaysia where 11 per cent of the adult population suffer from some kind of mental illness. The prevalence rate of mental illness in Brunei is not known as no epidemiological study has been done on the subject.

From Brunei Times: MoH marks Mental Health Day today

Adam Radhi
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, October 10, 2011

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) will be observing World Mental Health Day today at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital.

Starting a month-long campaign, several exhibitor booths will be set up to raise awareness on mental illnesses, and will be exhibiting comprehensive information on symptoms, treatments and causes.

The ministry has organised four exhibitions throughout the nation that will run for a week each. Every district's hospital will host a week of exhibitors.

A spokesperson from the ministry said that a walkathon will be held to raise awareness, though they could not confirm when. They had confirmed that a forum on mental health will also be part of the programmes, slated to be held at the end of the month.

No further details are available.


Estimates from November last year show that 10 per cent of Bruneians suffer from some form of mental illness, with less than five per cent of the population developing more serious mental illnesses.


Last year's statistics from Ripas Hospital showed that there was a 62 per cent jump in diagnosed cases from 3,889 in 2002 to 6,335 in 2006. Some of the disorders treated included depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.


Records of 2011 show that in the past five years, approximately 300 children and adolescents have been registered with the Psychiatric Department at the Ministry of Health for depression, emotional and behavioural problems.


A psychiatrist from Ripas Hospital said during last year's World Mental Health Day, a combination of genetic factors and various types of stresses are the main causes of mental illnesses in Brunei.


Individuals with a family history of mental illness also have a 10 per cent higher risk of developing a similar mental illness. About 70 to 80 per cent of the patients would see improvements in their condition after undergoing drug treatment.


According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), financial and human resources allocated for mental health are inadequate especially in low resource countries. The majority of low- and middle-income countries spend less than two per cent of their health budget on mental health. The Brunei Times

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kesihatan Mental Sedunia 2011

 
Program-program yang diadakan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan untuk menyambut Hari Kesihatan Mental Sedunia 2011:


1. Pameran:
Pameran Kesihatan Mental bertempat di:
(a) Hospital RIPAS, daerah Brunei Muara (10hb - 16hb Oktober 2011)
(b) Hospital PMMPMHAMB daerah Tutong (17hb - 23hb Oktober 2011)
(c) Hospital SSB, daerah Kuala Belait (23hb - 30hb Oktober 2011)
(d) Hospital PIHM, daerah Temburong (31hb Oktober - 6hb November 2011)


2. Media
(a) RTB 1 Rampai Pagi pada pukul 7.20am 11hb Oktober 2011
(b) Radio Pilihan (Bahasa Inggeris) pada pukul 12.00 tengahhari 13hb Oktober 2011
(c) Rangkaian Nasional (Bahasa Melayu) pada pukul 1.30 petang 13hb Oktober 2011
(d) Artikel di dalam Akhbar Borneo Bulletin dan Media Permata (pada minggu ini)


3. Walkathon
 Di Mukim AMO Temburong pada bulan November (tarikh akan ditetapkan)


4. Forum (untuk jemputan sahaja)
Akan berlangsung pada 26hb November 2011 (pagi) bertempat di Center Point Hotel .

Minggu Depan: World Mental Health Day (Hari Kesejahteraan Jiwa Sedunia) 2011

Hari Kesejahteraan Jiwa Sedunia 2011 akan diraikan di seluruh dunia pada minggu depan, iaitu pada hari Isnin, 10hb Oktober 2011.

Tema Hari Kesejahteraan Jiwa Sedunia 2011 ialah "Investing in Mental Health" (membuat pelaburan di dalam kesejahteraan jiwa).

Kami dimaklumi bahawa Jabatan Psikiatri di Hospital RIPAS telahpun merancang acara-acara untuk meraikan Hari Kesejahteraan Jiwa Sedunia tahun ini, dan aktiviti berkenaan akan berlangsung bukan saja pada 10hb Oktober 2011, tetapi berterusan untuk beberapa bulan. Tujuan acara-acara berkenaan adalah untuk meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai masalah kesejahteraan jiwa dan juga beban masalah kesejahteraan jiwa kepada individu, keluarga dan masyarakat. Juga diharapkan acara-acara berkenaan dapat melahirkan kesedaran mengenai faedah melabur di dalam kesejahteraan jiwa.

Kami di blog Kesejahteraan Jiwa Kitani menantikan berita selanjutnya dan akan menyampaikannya di sini secepat mungkin.