We can all agree that we can improve on how much effort we put into prioritising our mental health. Treating it as an issue to address only when problems arise often leads us to overlook the importance of regularly checking in with ourselves.
Dr Motshudi notes that some misconceptions she frequently encounters in her practice include the notion that, “You only need to take care of your mental health if you have a mental illness.” Enlightening this idea could not be further from the truth. “Our mental health determines our self-esteem, how we think, connect with others, deal with stress, and many other daily activities. The more you invest in your mental wellbeing, irrespective of the presence or absence of a mental illness, the better your physical health, resilience, the quality of your relationships, and overall happiness and productivity,” she says.
Dr Motshudi asserts that while many assume “You can tell when a person has a mental illness,” some common signs of mental illness can be present in those without mental illness. Signs such as lack of sleep or too much sleep, poor appetite, being withdrawn and feeling hopeless can be present in any individual without signifying the presence of a mental illness. “It’s a combination of these signs and symptoms, their impact on function, the length of time and progression that determines if a mental illness is present. Therefore, you can’t always tell if an individual has a mental illness.
In addition, a mental health crisis, such as a panic attack, can suddenly occur in someone who has been fully functional and ultimately impair their ability to continue with what they were doing.”
She further highlights the common misconception that mental illness is unavoidable. “A myriad of variables, such as genetics, brain chemicals, trauma, substance abuse, your environment and many others influence the development of a mental illness. These factors are different for each person.”
Dr Motshudi affirms that educating ourselves about how to be mentally healthy and modifying our lifestyles accordingly will have a positive knock- on effect on our mental and physical health. “Focusing on exercise, adequate sleep, good nutrition, good connection and mindfulness are the mainstays of a healthier mental state of being.”
Glamour: How do mental health issues relate with physical health?
Dr Motshudi: Mental health conditions cause difficulties in all aspects of your life, such as your physical health and relationships with those close to you.The risk of developing a physical illness is also higher when you have a mental illness; being very depressed and anxious can lead to unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, and stress, which can cause hypertension and ultimately heart disease. Similarly, when diagnosed with a physical illness, this often leads to stress, worry, anxiety, lack of sleep and many other symptoms that may lead to mental unwellness and even disease. In addition, mental health conditions affect how you relate with others and may lead to isolation and even loneliness.
Due to the stigma surrounding mental illness, individuals often do not disclose their diagnosis and, therefore, tend to go unsupported and present to a healthcare professional very late in the course of the disease, which affects the speed and effectiveness of their treatment.
Glamour: What is the impact of the stigma surrounding mental health issues on those seeking help and how can we combat it?
Dr Motshudi: Stigma comes from fear as well as a lack of knowledge about something. This leads to misconceptions and prejudice. Individuals with mental illness are often treated differently, as though they are incompetent or weak and, in turn, they internalise these feelings of shame and being devalued.
They, therefore, do not ask for help, do not want others to know about their mental illness and do not put their hand up for opportunities because they feel looked down upon. This is isolating — the opposite of what is required to be healthy, happy and feel connected to your community.
One of the best ways to deal with this stigma is to talk openly about mental health and mental illness. Conversation allows incorrect information to surface, such as commonly used words that people subconsciously use to refer to people with mental illness. This way, incorrect perceptions can be challenged.
Glamour: What role does early intervention play in managing mental health conditions? When should someone seek help?
Dr Motshudi: Early identification of health conditions is always ideal since it often leads to early diagnosis and, therefore, early treatment. Early disease of any kind is generally milder, has less negative impact on you as an individual and very seldom has complications. This makes it easier to treat and the prospects of recovery are higher. Mental illness is no different.
Early identification requires knowledge about a variety of health issues for an individual to seek help. It also requires self-awareness, realising “I am not myself”. Loved ones are also very helpful in highlighting any early changes they notice, often saying things like “You have not been yourself lately.” In mental health, early signs of illness are often nondescript:
• Change in eating patterns.
• Change in sleeping patterns.
• Change in mood (irritability, aggression, crying easily).
• Struggling to solve simple problems that you would otherwise be able to do.
• Loss of desire to do things that you previously enjoyed.
• Change in behaviour, such as social withdrawal and illogical decisions.
Your nurse or general practitioner is the most appropriate healthcare provider with whom to discuss these signs; they are best placed to take a detailed history and examine you.
Glamour: How can friends and family support someone experiencing mental health challenges?
Dr Motshudi: Whether you are experiencing earl symptoms or you are already diagnosed with a mental illness, loved ones are encouraged to always:
• Foster open conversation by asking questions honestly and with understanding. Trust is cemented in authentic relationships and allows the person to feel connected and not alone.
• Express your concerns, offer support and listen as much as possible. This will help you understand what you can do to assist. understand what you can do to assist.
Glamour: What are the most effective strategies for raising awareness about mental health within communities and workplaces?
Dr Motshudi: Mental health education and awareness have been shown to receive a better response when presented in the language of the receiving audience, and with cultural sensitivity that the audience finds relatable. In addition role-modelling by individuals who are respected by the audience plays an integral part in removing stigma. It makes people realise absolutely anybody can have a mental illness and that, if managed well, you can lead a productive and active life despite it.
Glamour: How can workplace environment affect workers with mental illness? What can organisations do to create a healthier workplace environment?
Dr Motshudi: Workplaces have individuals with varying degrees of information about mental health and mental illness. The most important first step is to educate and create awareness.
The information must be factual to demystify mental illness. Secondly, stigma, which is a very real response to mental illness, can be systemic or structural. Workplaces where there is discrimination or open questioning about someone’s competence or decisions purely because they have a mental illness can be a structural issue if such comments go unchallenged by peers and are instead laughed about. In some instances, the complaints and experiences of people with mental illness are nullified or not taken seriously.
Colleagues are sometimes encouraged to ‘ignore’ someone or treat them with distance (differently to how they would treat others in the same situation) because the individual is known to have a mental illness. Workplaces must not only create awareness about these prejudices but must also create a culture that frowns upon them and encourages such behaviour to be challenged — especially among leaders, since they have the greatest influence.
Glamour: What is the importance of integrating mental health education into the school curriculum?
Dr Motshudi: The average lag time from when patients begin to experience symptoms of mental illness to when they seek help or start treatment is 9—10 years (some are diagnosed early but do not act upon it until much later). This means that individuals who seek help and need to start treatment for their mental illness often start developing symptoms in their teenage years.
Having information about mental health and mental illness available through the school curriculum assists children in prioritising healthier lifestyles and mental well-being from a younger age. It sensitises them to symptoms of mental illness and teaches them from an early age to know how to support others and themselves through a mental illness.
Glamour: How can individuals prioritise mental health care in their daily lives? What self-care practices do you recommend?
Dr Motshudi: The most basic tool in mental health and well-being is mindfulness — the ability to be present in every moment, aware of your thoughts, feelings and discomforts without judging whether or not they are acceptable. Mindfulness takes practice and intentionality. It is not possible to always be mindful, but try to do so as often as possible when you remember.
Most of our mental issues derive from guilt, being overwhelmed, feeling judged, inadequate, feeling left out or unwanted, etc. We then tend to compensate for these in ways that create tension in our minds (such as destructive behaviour or addiction).
Whether or not you have a mental illness, practising mindfulness helps you to regulate and make sense of what you are going through and why. It also allows you to choose how you respond. Mindful individuals are calmer and happier and have fewer mental and physical health risks, including cancer. Those already diagnosed with conditions cope better when they practice mindfulness.
Glamour: What advancements or changes in mental health care do you find most promising for improving treatment and support?
Dr Motshudi: Mental health and mental illness make up a growing percentage of the conversations in healthcare forums globally. There is a greater awareness and, therefore, a greater demand for mental health to be given the same level of importance as cardiovascular health. This alone is encouraging. These conversations are forcing healthcare educators, service providers, funders, technology providers and recipients of care to think more about mental health and mental illness. This level of tension often leads to great innovation.
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