Mental wellbeing symptoms are as unique as each of our personalities. Issues vary depending on each person and from disorder to disorder. However, the most common signs to look out for are listed below:

• changes in appetite
• changes in libido
• mood changes, e.g., feeling more irritable, on edge or hopeless
• sleep disturbance
• concentration and memory problems
• decreased self-esteem
• loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• social isolation
• tiredness
• panic attacks
• decreased ability to cope with stress

Just like each of us gets sick at some point in our lives, many of us will struggle with our mental health. Here are some signs to look out for that would indicate that you may need support:

• Feeling hopeless, worthless – struggling to see the bright side of life, or wishing you didn’t exist.
• Getting into lots of arguments or fights.
• Feeling very sad, angry or anxious all the time.
• Numbness – not feeling any emotions at all, not being able to get out of bed or do the things you enjoy.
• Extreme highs and lows, or mood swings.
• Not feeling able to calm yourself down, being on edge or thoughts going round and round in your mind.
• Changes to your eating patterns – starving yourself, over-eating, making yourself sick.
• Using substances, like alcohol or marijuana to help you forget or cope with your feelings.
• Hurting yourself on purpose.

If you experience any of these thoughts, feelings or behaviours, it is important to seek help. This does not mean that you must have a mental health condition, but some support may help you.

Yes. Most people who experience a mental health condition will recover and some will only have a single event. A few people can get the condition again later on. Only very few people live with mental health conditions for their whole lives. With the right help, people living with a mental health condition have a good life without any major challenges.

There is no evidence that mental health problems are caused by spiritual, religious or witchcraft practices. There are many reasons why people experience poor mental health, such home life, support network, physical health and the support available to them. Many people who are having a hard time are helped by their existing religious practices but when someone is experiencing a mental health condition they also need different types of support. It is important to seek help from health professionals if someone is experiencing a mental health problem or condition

Stigma is an unfair negative attitude held by people towards others because of a difference such as living with mental health conditions. It is often caused by people having lack of proper knowledge about the issue and sometimes fear associated with misinformation. This can lead to people with mental health conditions being treated differently, being seen as abnormal and worthless and being excluded from society. This can then lead to the person who has a condition feeling shame, sometimes making their mental health worse. It can prevent people with mental health conditions from getting help, being involved in society, and leading happy lives.

If you’re not in a crisis, a good first step you can take is simply consulting a general practitioner or family doctor. Talking with a doctor can help clarify your options and rule out physical causes for mental health problems. While it might feel difficult at first to talk to your doctor about your thoughts and feelings, this discussion may help you access the counselling services you need.

Depending on the needs of the patient, psychiatrists can use different treatment methods, including psychotherapy, medication, psychosocial interventions and more. Psychiatrists can treat various mental health disorders, including addiction and substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, gender dysphoria, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), personality disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and more.

Most mental illnesses are caused by a combination of factors. However, some preventive measures can decrease the likelihood of developing mental illnesses. The concept of attributable risk has gained ground in mental health research and factors that are related to those can be potentially reduced to somehow prevent mental illnesses: prevent neglect and abuse in childhood , prevent substance abuse , prevent exposure to war , increase social support , decrease burden of other health disorders , train in management of stress etc…

According to the disorder, treatment can help the client in getting better and in some cases, full recovery can be achieved through adequate treatment.

• Symptoms of mental disorders vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Some general symptoms that may suggest a mental illness include:
• Problems in concentration
• Long-lasting sadness or irritability
• Recurrent changes in energy
• Extremely high and low moods
• Excessive fear, worry, or anxiety
• Social withdrawal
• Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Strong feelings of anger
• Delusions or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
• Increasing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Suicidal thoughts
• Many unexplained physical problems
• Confused thinking
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol

If you know someone who is having symptoms of a mental disorder, do not just think that they will snap out of it. Notify a family member, a mental health professional, a counsellor if you think a friend or family member has symptoms of a mental disorder.

While both psychiatrists and psychologists are mental health professionals, the big difference is that psychiatrists are medical physicians while psychologists are not. Because they are licensed physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe drugs. Psychologists are not allowed to do that. Psychologists on the other hand, use psychotherapy as a treatment method.

Treatment options include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, a combination of both as well as electroconvulsive therapy. Treatments can be administered in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Treatments options are selected and implemented according to each one’s condition and age group.

A collaborative work among several mental health specialists (psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical assistants) enhances the services provided to clients at Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope Foundation. This structure allows a 24/7 availability of our specialists to our clients.

The family’s role in identifying an addiction and in motivating the client to seek treatment is often essential. Their role continues throughout the treatment and recovery phase. If the client is very resistant to suggestions of seeing a specialist, a consultation can be offered to concerned relatives, in order to help them develop a better understanding of the situation and explore measures that can be implemented until the client is ready to engage with professionals.

Committed to treating all addictions, we will ensure nobody gets left behind. From nicotine, alcohol, drugs, gambling (betting), and food, to pornography, we have the expertise and resources to kick-start your next chapter.

Many clients who currently suffer from one type of addiction or another will permanently recover, either spontaneously or with the support of a service such as ours. Others will experience relapses and hurdles over months and possibly years. Many options might need to be considered from harm reduction to residential rehabilitation in at our facility This is why we consider building a strong therapeutic relationship build on mutual trust and openness a cornerstone of our treatment. Strict confidentiality is respected and sharing of information takes place in the interest of the client and with his consent.

To us, it’s not enough to help you become disease and addiction-free. We want you to return to your day-to-day with a renewed approach, where the soaring quality of life and healthy relationships merge with the tools to handle whatever life throws your way. At our core, we want to shape productive members of society – happy, fulfilled, and accomplished.

Our treatments are as unique as our patients, weaving your goals, preferences, and quirks through your care plan. That said, most of our patients require a combination of talking therapy and medication and medical detoxes for those with substance abuse disorders.

We will never keep you in our care for longer than necessary. Examined on a case-by-case basis, we will monitor your progress, analyse how your thought patterns have evolved, and determine your risk level before identifying an appropriate length of stay. Length of stay generally varies from 30 to 60 days for a short to medium stay and 180 days for a long-term stay.

While the majority of people with mental health conditions will likely not need to spend time in a hospital or treatment canter, an individual may need to be hospitalized so that they can be closely monitored and accurately diagnosed, have their medications adjusted or stabilized, or be monitored during an acute episode when their mental illness temporarily worsens. Hospitalization may occur because someone decides it is the best decision for themselves, at the insistence of a family member or professional or as a result of an encounter with a first responder (emt/paramedic, police officer, etc.). As your crisis lessens, and you are better able to care for yourself, we will begin planning for your discharge. In-patient care is not designed to keep you confined indefinitely; the goal is to maximize independent living by using the appropriate level of care for your specific illness.

Absolutely! Whereas we believe there shouldn’t be a stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction, we are bound by our ethical obligations of confidentiality and wholeheartedly understand that some of our patients want their recovery to remain private. Therefore, we will only share with whomever you authorise us to share with.

We boast of experienced, fully trained professionals who reflect our core values, whether that’s nurses, social workers, clinicians, counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists, or other specialists. As representatives of Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope Foundation, each team member must bring rich knowledge, serious attention to detail, and innate compassion for our patients.

Yes, and No. Healing is as individual as the sickness. Person A may heal completely, while Person B may not heal entirely but recover to a better health status than before. There are various contributing factors to one’s healing journey. They may range from differences in the particular longevity of disease, severity of illness, time of intervention, type of intervention, comorbid conditions, and environment, among others. It’s a personal journey that we are glad to walk with you.

Request for an appointment, and then request an online consultation with a mental health therapist or a psychiatrist. Select the topic you’d like to discuss with the therapist, and then book a visit at a time that’s most convenient for you. You can also choose to speak with someone as soon as possible, in which case you’ll hear back from the therapist directly in 12 hours or less.

During your first session, your therapist will tell you a little more about how they work and what you can expect from the therapeutic relationship. They’ll be interested in hearing you talk about your life in general as well as some of the challenges you face so that they can understand better how they might be able to help you. If you have any questions about the therapeutic process, the first session is often a great time to ask them.