Mental Health Talk
BUTTERWORTH – A talk on mental health was held on 21st August 2022 at the Conference Room, Nativity Centre by our esteemed speaker Dr. Gnanasegaran Xavier, a family physician. Dr. Xavier has been a medical practitioner for 40 years and is an active member of the Malaysian Doctors Association.
Approximately 30 members of the Church attended this insightful talk on mental illness. Dr. Xavier pointed out that mental illness is a part of life and it can occur to anyone of any age and any where. He emphasized that there are no problems that cannot be solved. Although some problems might take a longer time but every problem has a solution.
Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. There are a few types of mental illness including depression, anxiety, bipolar mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and personality disorders.
Dr. Xavier explained that mental illness may cause changes in a person’s thinking, mood and behaviour. Furthermore, it may decrease one’s ability to function and may also lead to pain, disability, injury, loss of freedom and death. For instance, anxiety may cause feelings of overwhelming fear and worry whereby its symptoms include sweating, heart disturbances and dizziness.
He further described that the stigma relating to mental illness may cause a person with mental illness to feel embarrassed, hide symptoms, trying to self-medicate and make bad choices trying to fit in. Nevertheless, there are methods to treat mental illness which include therapy and medication. Therapy could be in the form of counselling or talking to someone i.e. a psychologist. Moreover, it is wise not to delay in seeking counsel or treatment.
Finally, before concluding with a question-and-answer session, Dr. Xavier mentioned that everyone should take mental health seriously as it is linked to our physical health. Mental illness is something that everyone has which could occur at any time and one should not think that they can easily step out of it. Above all else, mental illness is not something to be ashamed of.