Latest news with #MentalHealth
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Mansions OAM and The Brain & Performance Centre unite for mental health awareness month
Mansions Owners Association Management has announced a collaboration with The Brain & Performance Centre, A DP World Company to mark Mental Health Awareness Month this May, launching a month-long series of wellness initiatives across its residential communities under the unifying theme: Mental health is an essential part of overall well-being, yet many individuals still find it difficult to speak about their emotional challenges. Through this partnership, Mansions OAM and The Brain & Performance Centre aim to create a safe and supportive space for dialogue, awareness, and practical tools that help residents care for their mental wellness. Throughout the month of May, the programme will focus on four weekly themes, each designed to support different dimensions of emotional, cognitive, and psychological well-being: ● Week 1: Let's Talk About It – Awareness and Conversation Starters ● Week 2: Take a Breath – Stress Relief and Mindfulness ● Week 3: Support Systems – Getting Help and Building Connections ● Week 4: Everyday Acts of Wellness – Daily Routines and Self-Care Community events, expert-led content, and digital engagement will provide residents with accessible ways to participate, reflect, and connect. 'This initiative is about more than raising awareness — it's about sparking everyday conversations that can lead to lasting change,' said Alexander Karabet, Managing Director of Mansions Owners Association Management. 'We are grateful to partner with The Brain & Performance Centre to bring expert support into our neighbourhoods.' Dr Craig Cook, CEO of The Brain & Performance Centre, added: 'Mental well-being is not just a health priority — it's a human one. We're proud to partner with Mansions OAM to meet people where they are: in their homes, communities, and everyday moments that shape emotional resilience. Together, we hope to create safe, supportive environments where conversations around brain and mental health are encouraged and normalized.'
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Mental health charity report on treatment of black people
The way black people are treated when they are detained under the Mental Health Act has been examined in a new at the Berkshire branch of charity Mind published the report, which looks into access to mental health care and comes after data from 2021 and 2023 showed black people were more than three times as likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than white people in the was commissioned to engage with black communities, staff and groups to "understand the context" behind the figures. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust commissioned the report as part of a programme addressing inequalities in local mental health services. A statement from co-CEOs of Mind in Berkshire, Jess Willsher and Joel Rose, said the report "represents an important step in understanding the experiences and perspectives of black communities in Berkshire about mental health services". 'Community voices' The report was based on feedback from more than 180 people, and the charity said key themes included concerns over systemic racial bias and experiences of poor treatment and outcomes for black individuals using mental health feedback included a stigma around mental health in some black communities, a need for greater cultural awareness and representation in the mental health workforce and the impact of intergenerational trauma and mistrust in Willsher and Mr Rose said it was important the findings "lead to constructive and collaborative change, across the system, so that disparities are reduced and experiences improve".Dr Kathryn MacDermott, from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, added: "At the heart of this project are lived experience and community voices. "We welcome the findings of the report and will continue to work with Mind in Berkshire, embedding learnings from the report within the ongoing work we are doing." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Singapore GPs step up to support those with mental health problems
Over 520 GPs had joined the Mental Health General Practitioner Partnership as at December 2024. ILLUSTRATION: LIM KAILI, ADOBE STOCK No health without mental health Singapore GPs step up to support those with mental health problems SINGAPORE - From excelling in a management position in a multinational corporation to bringing up two teenagers, Ms Lee has done it all. But after clinching her hard-won successes, the high-flier found herself in a deep state of emotional and physical exhaustion amid a hectic work period in 2022. Sleep and rest did not help. 'Everything started to feel heavy and I lost interest in things I used to love. 'I was like a functional wreck, still showing up, smiling and delivering results. But inside, I just constantly felt very disconnected and my mind was very foggy,' said Ms Lee, who declined to use her full name, nor provide her age . Overwhelmed, she decided to turn to family physician Lim Hong Shen at Bridgepoint Health, who had treated her and her family for minor illnesses over the years. 'I've developed that trust with him, and he was the first person who came to mind when I decided to seek help,' said Ms Lee, adding that she had never thought of going to a psychologist or counsellor because she was unfamiliar with mental health issues. She was grateful that Adjunct Assistant Professor Lim took a slow and tactful approach in assessing her over a few consultations. 'He did not even mention a word about mental health, and I think that was helpful for me because the moment he did, I would have been taken aback,' said Ms Lee. It was only on her third visit that Prof Lim gently broached the topic and referred her to a private therapist to manage her anxiety symptoms. He continued to stay in touch with Ms Lee through her therapy, even helping her find another therapist when she felt she could not click with the first. In 2023, Ms Lee was discharged by Prof Lim after mastering coping strategies and feeling energised by a new zest for life. Her experience inspired her to set up a women's help group in her company. Her recovery would not have been possible without Prof Lim, she said. 'He didn't just send me to a therapist, he was there throughout the entire journey,' said Ms Lee. While the treatment of mental conditions has always been part of what general practitioners (GPs) can do, they are now being asked to play a greater role in the national effort to have patients diagnosed early and treated in the community, rather than mainly in hospitals and specialist centres. According to latest figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH), more than 520 GPs had joined the Mental Health General Practitioner Partnership (MHGPP) as at December 2024. The initiative supports doctors in identifying, diagnosing and managing patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions. GPs on the MHGPP programme, which began in 2012, benefit from access to lower-cost psychiatric medicine and support from hospital-based psychiatrist-led teams. About 450 joined in March 2024. Prof Lim, who has been on the programme since 2018, said the clinic's Everton Park branch sees about 30 patients a month who need help with mental health. Most are regular patients of the clinic while others were previously seen at hospitals or by private specialists. The patients come from different walks of life, from students facing school stress to young adults who have relationship or work struggles and elderly folks who face isolation. Prof Lim believes that mental health conditions should, by and large, be treated in the community as the first line of defence. This is especially if the GP has had a long relationship with the patient. 'That trust component is huge… and that gives us an advantage over the touch-and-go or one-time encounter that a specialist may have with a patient,' said Prof Lim, adding that patients in such circumstances are more forthcoming about their struggles and receptive to treatment options. The common conditions seen at the clinic include depression and anxiety, and most are mild cases. GPs may also choose to refer patients who need more community support to social service agencies, and those with more severe and urgent mental health needs to specialists. The latter could be a patient who is suicidal, or has multiple mental health issues, said Prof Lim. 'We are like the master navigator for our patients,' he added. Dr Daryl Yeo, a GP and deputy primary care network clinical lead at Parkway Shenton, said family doctors can offer more integrated and holistic care for their patients. Dr Yeo has been on the MHGPP programme since 2022 and sees about one to two new mental health patients a week. He pointed out that many mental health patients, such as new mothers, have other health concerns. They can develop post-partum depression if they struggle with experiences like breastfeeding. 'As family doctors, what we can do is offer care on issues with breastfeeding and post-partum care, and at the same time manage their mental health conditions, which may actually go hand in hand with their breastfeeding issues,' said Dr Yeo. GPs can also notice red flags earlier. 'Patients who come in every month saying that they have headaches could trigger us to consider if there's an underlying issue of burnout, anxiety or depression,' said Dr Yeo. While the MHGPP programme allows GPs to prescribe lower-cost psychiatric medication to patients, sometimes the prescription is non-medical. Dr Yeo cited the example of a man who started suffering panic attacks because his wife feared he would cheat on her after witnessing infidelity in her friend's marriage. In cases like this, the social issues also need to be addressed. 'As primary care doctors, we are relatively familiar with community services. If there are couple or family issues that need resolution, we would try to get them to visit a family service centre,' said Dr Yeo. An MOH spokesperson said the ministry will continue to work with the Agency for Integrated Care, polyclinics, GPs and community mental health partners to expand and enhance mental health services in the community. With the launch of Healthier SG, which pairs those above 40 with a family doctor, MOH is developing care protocols for major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder to be rolled out in 2026. These protocols will help more GPs integrate mental healthcare with chronic disease management. As more Healthier SG GPs become equipped to handle these conditions, MOH will be reviewing the MHGPP programme, with details to be shared in due course. Helplines Mental well-being Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24-hour CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Clarity Singapore: 67577990 Online resources (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UPrep to host annual mental health fair
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC ) – UPrep High School will be hosting its annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair Saturday and it's open to community members, students, and families. The fair is taking place at UPrep on 1290 Lake Avenue near Seneca Parkway from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The fair is free to attend and it'll feature mental health and wellness resources in the Rochester community, food, and fun for families to take part in. 'At UPrep, we believe mental health is just as important as physical health,' Jamaal Peavy, Director of Student, Family, Community Support & Engagement, said. 'This event is an opportunity for our community to come together, learn from experts, and embrace wellness in all its forms.' Organizers say the fair is meant to break the stigma that surrounds mental health in hopes of building a healthier community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
One of Stockton's longest-running nonprofits provides home for young homeless individuals
STOCKTON – For Mental Health Awareness Month, CBS Sacramento is taking you inside one of Stockton's longest-running nonprofits helping at-risk youth. For over a century, the Children's Home of Stockton (CHS) has been just that, a home for homeless young individuals. "I was actually living in a tent at the time when my former case manager actually said, 'Hey, I have this really good opportunity,'" said Timothy Olvera, who is receiving support at CHS. Opportunity came knocking for Olvera, who at 19 years old found help and a warm bed at CHS. "Coming off the streets, you're, you know, in the sense, a little grimy, a little gross," Olvera said. Olvera, who's in the process of transitioning, is a recent graduate of the Catalyst program at CHS. The campus program, which houses 18 homeless individuals ages 18 to 24, provides services including mental health care, work development, and life skills. "It's been a huge help. In a sense, right now, they're helping me with my apartment and yeah, I got my own apartment," Olvera said. Faith Parker is another catalyst grad. After aging out of the foster care system, she had nowhere to go, and soon discovered CHS online. "So, I heard about it through their Instagram," Parker said. "You fill out and click a link and then you get sent directly to the page. And within two weeks, I was able to get a spot here at CHS." And just like Olvera, Parker lived on campus and learned to lean on staff to get through her trauma. "Showed me a lot of support," Parker said. "You know, really opened my eyes to being like, we're here to help you, regardless of what you're going through. It doesn't matter if it's big or small, it's your journey." The CHS has become much more than just a home. This gem in the heart of the city is a place of hope and resilience. "It is the second oldest non-profit in our community," CHS CEO Joelle Gomez said. "We've been here since 1882, 143 years old, and we have evolved." Gomez leads a team of clinicians, therapists and counselors inside this historical redbrick building that once served as an orphanage. Today, CHS remains steadfast in helping at-risk youth navigate life. "Catalyst is a very special place because it surrounds these young people with all of the resources that they really need to get out of homelessness," Gomez said. Gomez sees firsthand how catalyst is changing lives. "To just be able to grab that piece of fresh fruit, to be able to talk to that clinician, to have somebody greet them appropriately, restore that dignity. It gave them the strength to be able to feel safe, to be responsive," Gomez said. Since launching in 2021, the catalyst program has been in high demand. "We have a steady line of a waitlist," Gomez said. "That's proof that this program is working; these young participants are graduating at a great rate." CHS plans to add six additional beds. As for recent catalyst grads, they're facing the world with a lot more confidence and are grateful for the life lessons learned at CHS. "I actually can stand on my own two feet. Now I actually can set up boundaries with other people," Olvera said. "Thank you, CHS, for all of the opportunities and shaping me into this wonderful person," Parker said. Olvera is living independently and reconnected with an older sister. As for Parker, she is also living on her own and working as a bus driver for special needs kids in San Joaquin County.
