Mental Health

Mental health is a complex and integral part of our overall well-being. It is influenced by various factors, including genetics, our social environment, and how our minds interpret and make sense of the world. Mental health affects every aspect of our lives, from the way we think and feel to how we interact with others and respond to life’s challenges.

  • The Impact of Mental Illness

    • Mental illness can significantly impact your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. It can affect you physically, psychologically, and socially, leading to a range of challenges in daily life. Life events such as traumatic experiences, physical health issues, and ongoing stress can further influence your mental well-being, sometimes triggering or exacerbating mental health difficulties.

  • Stigma

    • Mental health difficulties are very common, affecting around one in four people in the UK. These challenges do not discriminate; anyone, regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion, or geographical location, can experience mental health issues. However, the stigma associated with mental illness often prevents individuals from seeking the help and support they need. Overcoming this stigma is crucial for promoting mental health awareness and encouraging people to reach out for assistance.

  • Feeling Lost

    • One of the most profound effects of psychological distress is a loss of connectedness with yourself and the world around you. This disconnection can manifest in feelings of isolation, alienation, and a sense of being out of sync with your surroundings. Reestablishing this sense of connectedness is an important part of the healing process and can be achieved through various forms of therapy and support.

  • Diagnoses and Labels

    • Mental health diagnoses and labels, such as depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are commonly used to classify and understand symptoms. These diagnoses help healthcare professionals refer you to the appropriate services and treatments. It’s important to remember that while specific symptoms may be common, no two individuals experience mental illness in exactly the same way. Personalized care and understanding are essential for effective treatment and recovery.

  • Seeking Support

    • Recognizing the signs of mental health difficulties and seeking support is a critical step toward recovery. Whether you are experiencing mild symptoms or more severe mental health challenges, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Support is available, and addressing mental health issues early can lead
    to better outcomes and improved quality of life.

Good mental health is about managing a range of emotions, both positive and negative, living a meaningful life alongside your values and things that are important to you.

Protective factors (things that help keep us safe) include family and friends and personal characteristics such as resilience that help you deal with stressful events.

Both DUKH (suffering) and SUKH (happiness) are natural parts of life, and good mental health means staying strong and balanced through all of them.

“Dukh Daaroo Sukh Rog Bhaiaa”
(Suffering is the medicine, Happiness is the disease) “

To assess your mental health, pay attention to changes in your mood, behaviour, or thoughts.

You might struggle with adjusting to life events, feel low for no clear reason, hear voices, see things that others don’t, or become more withdrawn. Other signs include problems with memory, concentration, sleep, or appetite and difficulties functioning at work or home.

Mental health challenges can vary greatly, and many people aren’t aware they need support because they lack information on available resources.

Recovery is a process, and seeking help early can make a big difference.

Remember that being unwell does not define you—recognise your strengths and achievements and focus on what gives your life purpose.

It’s important to promote healthy living and know where to find help if needed.

Various professionals can treat Mental health issues, including GPs, psychiatrists, community psychiatric nurses, and clinical psychologists.

  • Understanding Treatment Options

    It’s important to be well-informed about different services and types of help available.

  • Medication as One Option

    Medication can be useful for stabilising mental health but isn’t the only treatment and may not suit everyone.

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends using a combination of medical and psychological treatments for many mental health conditions, as this approach often provides the best results.

Psychological treatment may include one to one therapy with a qualified therapist or even group therapy with others who are going through similar.

Psychological therapy aims to help you make sense of difficult experiences and to develop an understanding and acceptance of issues that you may be facing.

It is only when we are open to your experiences and aware of our thinking and behaviour patterns can we commit to more helpful behaviours.

Therapy may also involve the development of more helpful coping strategies, with self-compassion at the core of this. Remember, you are the expert of yourself here.

There is also a range of self-help material to read at home to try and help yourself.

For therapy to be effective, it’s important to be ready to share openly about your struggles and explore your thoughts and actions with kindness.

Sikh your Mind has several Clinical Psychologists in the team who have completed their doctorates in Psychology and are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

It is important to note that although Psychologists are doctors, they do not prescribe medication.

Psychologists have a strong academic and clinical background and work in a variety of settings and during their training will have worked with all demographics.

We also have assistant and trainee clinical psychologists in the team Including a qualified high intensity Cognitive behavioural Therapist accredited by the British Association for behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) as well as counsellors in training and well-being coaches.

  • The difference between Clinical Psychologists and Counsellors:

Counsellors can specialize in various therapies, often undergoing shorter training than psychologists. They typically focus on addressing current issues and present distress.

Counsellors should be accredited by organizations such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Counselling is often shorter term and for mild mental health difficulties.

  • Why is this important?

In the UK, the titles ‘psychologist’, ‘counsellor’ and ‘therapist’ are not protected terms and therefore, can be used by anyone.It is important to seek an appropriately qualified professional and we can signpost you to suitably qualified people, if required.

At Sikh your Mind we would like to protect the vulnerable, to help navigate through systems (including the NHS and privately) and to provide professional support to ensure that the community gets access to the right care.

Our ambition, is to create a database of accredited Sikh & Punjabi professionals as a resource

As Sikh Your Mind is not an emergency service, please contact one of the organisations below should you require immediate assistance.

In case of an emergency/risk to one’s life – please call 999.

For urgent not lifethreatening care call NHS 111.

 

 

 

  • Childline – for children and young people under 19
    Call: 0800 1111 – the number won’t show up on your phone bill