TNMU Psychological Support Centre and University Experts on Guard of Mental Health
World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10. This date was introduced in 1992. It was initiated by the World Mental Health Federation. The main goal of World Mental Health Day is to reduce the prevalence of depressive disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, drug addiction, epilepsy, mental retardation, drug abuse and suicide, as well as to bring up issues of helping people with mental disorders, spreading of information about effective methods for prevention, medical treatment, prevention of mental disorders and social adaptation.
This day reminds us that mental health is just as important as physical.
Many people believe that mental health is the absence of mental illness. In fact, it is a general well-being against which a person is able to realize their potential and cope with daily stress.
Mental health is crucial for overall well-being of people, society and the country; it is essential for our collective and individual ability to think, express emotions, communicate with each other and enjoy life.
For many years, on this occasion the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University has organized frequent events aimed at drawing attention to protection of mental health.
There are many factors that affect mental health. The increasing morbidity is facilitated by information overload, political and economic cataclysms in the country; difficulties in personal life, conflict situations at work, household problems, unhealthy lifestyle.
This year the World Mental Health Day information campaign was held online due to the pandemic.
The Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology together with the TNMU Centre for Psychological Support and the TNMU Outlook student initiative have prepared an educational video dedicated to Mental Health Day. It is aimed at drawing attention to the prevention of psychological problems. Everyone can take a step towards improvement their mental well-being and support family and friends in tough times.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=386762875662744
Insufficient information and stigma create myths about mental health. And this is a barrier to taking proper care of your health and seeking help in time for those who need it.
Also on the Mental Health Day, at the invitation of MedGRADIENT, the Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology Tetiana Husieva took part in an online event and presented a report “Why is mental health important?” The event was attended by international and Ukrainian students of TNMU, who learned alot about mental health and its indicators.
At the beginning of her speech, Tetiana Husieva presented to the participants the information about mental health as a state of mental well-being that is a source for living, creating, developing, and resisting everyday stress. She highlighted the importance of mental health care for everyone, and talked about good habits for maintaining mental well-being in everyday life.
The psychologist emphasised the need to seek professional help of a psychologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist, when self-regulation methods do not help, when a person cannot cope with stress, anxiety and depression, has trouble sleeping and loss of appetite, no interest in things, previously interested in. At the end of the online event, there was a discussion between the speaker and the participants, during which students got answers to the questions of the most concern.
Tetiana Husieva said the Centre of Psychological Support of TNMU has been successfully working for two years. A psychologist Liudmyla Bohutska also provides consultations at the centre. Anyone can ask for help from Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 19:00. Due to the pandemic, the experts of the centre work with teachers and students online (https://www.tdmu.edu.ua/2019/01/22/u-tdmu-rozpochala-robotu-sluzhba-psyhologichnoyi-pidtrymky/ ).
The consultants of the centre are members of the NGO “Association of Psychologists of Higher Education of Ukraine”. Today they are joining the National Psychological Association. Thus, TNMU psychologists are on their way to integration into the national professional community. With its activities and the number of appeals (2-3 appeals per day), this unit has proved its importance for protecting mental health and well-being of teachers and students of TNMU (https://www.facebook.com/psycentr.consult ).
“With the pandemic and quarantine, the demands for psychological support have changed. People talk more about their fears about their own health, the health of family and friends. If someone used to have anxiety, now it has worsened. They also ask how to overcome panic, how to organize yourself in time and space, when there are many people around and there is no opportunity to be alone or work in comfortable working conditions. During the epidemic, we also provide written advice as many people are at home with relatives. The written support was introduced in order to maintain confidentiality. We always emphasize that we maintain maximum confidentiality so that those who apply are calm and confident,” Tetiana Husieva said.
According to the psychologist, before the pandemic, the students were mostly interested in how to overcome anxiety before the session, how to build harmonious relationships with parents and friends, how to balance relationships in the group, to raise self-esteem.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the TNMU Centre for Psychological Support has also provided assistance to the citizens of Ternopil. Tetiana Husieva noted that there were many appeals. If the psychologists of the centre notice that a person needs a more narrow specialty physician, they refer the patients to psychiatrists and other experts (https://www.tdmu.edu.ua/2020/03/23/tsentr-psyhologichnogo-konsultuvannya-tnmu-nadaye-on- lajn-poslugy-ternopolyanam-yaki-potrebuyut-psyhologichnoyi-pidtrymky-pid-chas-karantynu/ ).
This year the Mental Health Day was held under the motto: “Mental health is available to everyone!”
The experts of the psychological service of TNMU and the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology emphasize: enjoy life every moment, develop, communicate with interesting people and inspire others! Take care of your mental health! Take care of yourself and fill your life with vital resources!
Please registration for consultation: +38 067 7899410, +38 097 5006924 or e-mail: psycentr.consult@gmail.com for online consultation.