Non-Profit /NGO .Since 2010, We Are Working In Water Sanitation Hygiene ,Menstrual Hygiene,Gender Equality,Health,Education,Environment & Livelihood Projects. Volunteer /Internship/Student Study Tour Travel Program Is Open All Round The Year . Email : communications@heeals.org
Whatss app :+91-7982316660
The link between diet and emotions
stems from the close relationship between brain and gastrointestinal tract,
often called the “second brain.”GI tract is home to billions of bacteria that
influence the production chemical substances that constantly carry messages
from the gut to the brain. Two common examples of this are dopamine and
serotonin.Eating nutritionally dense food promotes the growth of “good”
bacteria, which in turn positively affects the production of these chemicals.
When production is optimal, brain receives these positive messages loud and
clear, and one’s mental state can reflect it. Studies have even found that
clean diets consisting of mainly whole, unprocessed foods, can help with
symptoms of depression and anxiety.Some people who move to a mostly plant-based
diet,often notice that their energy and focus are sustained throughout the day.A
lot of the processed foods we eat are highly addictive and stimulate the
dopamine centers in our brain, which are associated with pleasure and
reward. When we’re feeling stressed or depressed, it’s often processed
foods we reach for in search of a quick pick-me-up. During busy or difficult
periods, a cup of coffee stands in for a complete breakfast and fresh fruits
and vegetables are replaced with high-fat, high-calorie fast food. When feeling
down, a pint of ice cream becomes dinner (or ‘;[we skip dinner altogether).
SUGAR- is a major culprit of
inflammation. It feeds “bad” bacteria in the GI tract. It can also cause a
temporary spike in “feel good” chemicals like dopamine. These spikes
result in a fleeting sugar rush, followed by a hard crash.
WHOLE FOODS- Some studies show that
preservatives, food colorings and other additives may cause or worsen
hyperactivity and depression.The powerful nutrients produced by colorful
produce have tons of benefits for the mind and body. Their nutritional
properties are often contained in the colors themselves.
FIBER- Plant-based foods are full of
fiber which helps the body absorb glucose (food sugars) more slowly. This helps
to avoid sugar rushes and crashes.
FOLATE- This type of B vitamin helps
with dopamine production without forcing it to surge the way sugars do.
VITAMIN D- Vitamin D helps with the
production of serotonin.
MAGNESIUM- This essential mineral
helps with everything from nerve and muscle function to keeping a steady
heartbeat. But it’s also vital to the food-mood connection. A mineral
deficiency can hurt the bacteria in the gut and cause depression and
anxiety-like symptoms.
FERMENTED FOODS- Fermented foods are
packed with probiotics, which are certain live bacteria that are good for the digestive
tract.
Mental health includes our emotional,
psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act,
and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Various types of mental illnesses exist, displaying a range of intensities and
severity. They can be categorized into common mental disorders and more severe
mental conditions. Mental health disorders encompass a spectrum, spanning from
psychosis—indicative of chemical imbalances in the body—to neurosis—stemming
from inadequate attitudinal learning during the developmental or formative
years.
Common Mental Health Illnesses include:
Depression1
Anxiety/Phobias
EatingDisorders
Stress
Severe Mental Health Illnesses Include:
Schizophrenia
Bipolardisorder
(Manicdepression)
Clinicaldepression
Suicidaltendency
Personalitydisorder
Statistics indicate
that 20% of the population experiences symptoms associated with mental health
disorders. Half of these conditions manifest by the age of 14, with 75%
emerging by the age of 24. Mental health problems can be influenced by a
variety of factors. The interplay between the mind, body, and environment
contributes to the development of psychological disorders. Some of these factors
include persistent and prolonged stress, biological elements, substance abuse
and overdose, cognitive patterns like persistent negative thoughts and low
energy, as well as social issues such as financial difficulties, relationship
breakdowns, and social isolation.
The discourse around
mental health in India is still relatively recent, and persistent myths and
taboos surround the subject. As per the National Health program administered by
the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 6% of Kerala's population grapples
with mental disorders, while one in every five individuals experiences
emotional and behavioral issues. The country is home to a staggering 60 to 70
million people facing both common and severe mental disorders. Disturbingly,
India holds the unfortunate title of being the world's suicide capital, with an
alarming 2.6 lakh cases reported annually. According to World Health
Organization (WHO) statistics, the average suicide rate in India stands at 10.9
per lakh people.
According to the data
problems related to mental health are stigma. There are a lot of factors . The
main ones are :
1 Lack of
help. Due to fact that people can not afford specialists they are not
able to get treatment.The treatment given by government or free
treatments are not enough. We have limited workers and
Places where to go .
2 Mentality. Most of the people do not take
mental problems seriously and as a result their mental
Health will get worse.
3 Individuals
suffering from mental illnesses face a significant hurdle as insurance
companies typically do not offer medical coverage for hospital admissions
related to mental health conditions. For some, access to quality hospitals is
unattainable due to this limitation. Effective treatment can be expensive, and
the absence of insurance coverage further compounds the challenge, making it
even more difficult for individuals to afford the necessary care.
This factors can lead
to bigger problems . For example, not treated depression among females can lead
to of low birth weight and preterm birth.
That is why our team
is putting every effort to solve this problem . You can donate or join us to
make this world better.
JoinHEEALS .We believe that by
starting small and working with one community at a time, we
can begin to make changes that will spread gradually throughout India, all the
while working hard to create and maintain a self-sustaining society. We
aim to facilitate the fulfilment of the millennium development goals, set out
by the United Nations, by ensuring that every household in India has unimpeded
access to proper WASH facilities.
Email : communications@heeals.org
whats app: +91-7981316660
written by volunteer-coordinator
Kenenbaeva Janyl.
Menstrual hygiene too and how it effects mental health:
Written by volunteer-coordinator Janyl Kenenbaeva
First of all, let me introduce you what is “Menstrual Hygiene Taboo”
Menstrual hygiene taboos are social and cultural restrictions, beliefs,
and practices that surround menstruation and affect the way menstruating
individuals are treated and how they manage their menstrual hygiene. These
taboos vary widely across different cultures and societies, and they can have
significant negative consequences for the physical and emotional well-being of
those who menstruate. Some common menstrual hygiene taboos and the reasons
behind them include:
Menstruation as Impurity: In many cultures, menstruation is often viewed
as impure or dirty. Menstruating individuals may be considered unclean and are
sometimes excluded from participating in religious activities, entering certain
places, or even cooking during their periods.
Silence and Secrecy: In some societies, menstruation is surrounded by a
code of silence. Many individuals are discouraged from talking openly about
menstruation, leading to a lack of information and misconceptions.
Restrictions on Activities: In some communities, menstruating
individuals are restricted from engaging in certain activities, such as
swimming, cooking, or participating in social events, due to the belief that
their presence might contaminate these activities.
Isolation: In some cases, people who menstruate are isolated during
their periods. They may be required to stay in separate huts or designated
areas, away from their families, during their menstrual cycles.
Limited Access to Sanitary Products: In some areas, the lack of access
to affordable and safe sanitary products can be a significant issue. This, in
turn, can lead to unhygienic practices, such as using old rags or leaves, which
can increase the risk of infections.
Stigma and Shame: The shame and stigma associated with menstruation can
lead to negative psychological and emotional effects. Menstruating individuals
may feel ashamed or embarrassed about their periods, which can affect their
self-esteem and overall mental health.
Lack of Education: Due to taboos surrounding menstruation, many
individuals receive little or no education about menstrual hygiene, proper
sanitary product use, or menstrual health. This can lead to a lack of awareness
and can result in harmful practices.
Addressing menstrual hygiene taboos is crucial for promoting gender
equality, women's health, and well-being. Efforts are underway in many parts of
the world to challenge these taboos and promote open discussions about
menstruation. Organizations, activists, and governments are working to provide
better education and access to sanitary products, as well as to challenge
cultural norms that stigmatize menstruation. Breaking these taboos is essential
for improving the lives and health of menstruating individuals and promoting
gender equality.
So according to the text in has its own consequences.
The next thing that is going to be talked it is how does it effect on
mental health
The societal menstrual hygiene taboos and the stigma surrounding
menstruation can have a significant impact on the mental health of individuals
who menstruate. Here's how these taboos can affect mental well-being:
Shame and Embarrassment: When menstruation is considered a taboo topic, individuals
may feel ashamed or embarrassed about their periods. This can lead to feelings
of self-consciousness and a desire to hide their menstrual cycle, even from
close family and friends. This secrecy can contribute to a sense of isolation
and emotional distress.
Low Self-Esteem: Menstrual stigma can erode self-esteem. When
individuals are made to feel that a natural bodily function is dirty or impure,
they may internalize these negative beliefs and perceive themselves as less
valuable or worthy. This can have long-term effects on self-worth and
self-confidence.
Anxiety and Stress: The fear of leakage or odor, especially in
situations where individuals are discouraged from openly addressing
menstruation, can lead to heightened anxiety and stress. Worrying about others
discovering their period can be a constant source of anxiety, affecting mental
health.
Social Isolation: In cultures where menstruating individuals are
isolated or excluded during their periods, social isolation can be emotionally distressing.
This separation from family and community can lead to feelings of loneliness,
depression, and a lack of emotional support.
Limited Access to Education: Menstrual taboos often result in inadequate
education about menstruation. This lack of knowledge can lead to confusion and
fear regarding menstrual health and hygiene. Individuals may not know how to
properly manage their periods or identify signs of potential health issues,
which can lead to increased stress and anxiety.
Impact on Academic and Professional Life: For students and
professionals, menstrual stigma can disrupt daily routines. The fear of
leakage, the need to hide menstrual products, and dealing with pain and
discomfort can impact one's ability to concentrate, participate, and excel in
academic or workplace environments.
Reproductive Health Concerns: In some cases, the fear of discussing
menstruation can prevent individuals from seeking medical advice when needed.
Ignoring or neglecting reproductive health issues can lead to further mental
distress and physical complications.
Addressing menstrual hygiene taboos and stigma is essential for
promoting good mental health among individuals who menstruate. Education, open
dialogue, and breaking the silence around menstruation can help reduce feelings
of shame and isolation. Initiatives that provide access to affordable and safe
sanitary products, promote menstrual hygiene education, and challenge harmful
cultural norms are crucial for improving mental health outcomes and overall
well-being for those who menstruate.
To sum up, we need to educate people and comfort girls to make them feel
better and not embarrassed.
It will help them to go to school to ask for help they will not feel bad
for just human-being .
As a volunteering organization we can say that our main mission is to
make people happier and better , so we will do everything that we can do in
order to complete our mission by helping and educating world about menstruation
We are “HEEALS” and we are always happy to offer our help to everyone.
By donating you can help us make world different .
Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our
Well-being
This year, at a time when we are seeing a range
of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll
back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls.
From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to
digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education
to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes; there is
an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas
that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential.
Responding to girls’ calls for change, the global
community must move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the
action needed to make that change. When we pay attention, we see that, already,
many girls are championing solutions and change in their communities. The
International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address
the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment
of their human rights.
Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and
healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they
mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls
have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today
and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and
political leaders. An investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls
upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future,
one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of
climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and
global sustainability. Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by
stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with
disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs,
innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that
is relevant for them and future generations.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is
sustainable and leaves no one behind. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is
integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and
girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that
work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future
generations.
Did you know?
·Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing
lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary
school today.
·Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women
do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are
twice as likely to be online.
·Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more
hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age.
·Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new
HIV infections among adolescents.
·Nearly 1 in 4 married/partnered adolescent girls aged
15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at
least once in their lifetime.
Even
before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage
in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more
girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19
pandemic
Talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters
As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights, ‘mental health is a universal human right’. Awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.
Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people.
Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to deprive a person of their human rights or to exclude them from decisions about their own health. Yet all over the world, people with mental health conditions continue to experience a wide range of human rights violations. Many are excluded from community life and discriminated against, while many more cannot access the mental health care they need or can only access care that violates their human rights.
Source : WHO
HEEALS is continues to work to ensure mental health is valued, promoted, and protected, and that urgent action is taken so that everyone can exercise their human rights and access the quality mental health care they need. Join the World Mental Health Day 2023 campaign to learn more about your basic right to mental health as well as how to protect the rights of others.
Email : communications@heeals.org
Whatss app : +91-7982316660
Monday 9 October 2023
NO ONE TALKS ABOUT TEACHERS MENTAL HEALTH !
By Sachin Solanki
We are living in times when talking about mental health and its intersection with and influence on other forms of health is being normalized more than ever before. More and more people are coming out with their stories and experiences, making discussions around mental health more stigma-free. From celebrities to house-helps, mental health leaves no one. Yet, it is only unfortunate that we don’t talk enough about the mental health of people whom society depends so much on- about people who build lives through sharing and creating knowledge and these people are none other than our teachers.
What’s troubling them?
Teaching can be both a rewarding and a gruelling profession. The sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that comes through the dissemination of knowledge and ideas can be an enriching and illuminating feeling.
But teaching can also be a field filled with challenges and hurdles. Rigorous and exhausting schedules, requirement of tailored and student-specific approaches and pressure from various actors like parents, school authorities and sometimes even the government can act as major obstacles in making teaching a safe and fulfilling profession.
This profession demands a continuous shift in how we organize and share ideas. And no ideas can be shared to the last mile if it’s not well-cooked in the first few steps. It is precisely for this reason we believe that the mental health of teachers and people involved in the education system is a sine qua non for a healthy learning atmosphere.
Another obstacle is the lack of adequate infrastructure and tools to share knowledge. This can become a frustrating and demoralizing exercise, more so at the ground level where things get more complicated by the intersection of factors like caste, class and affordability. And together such factors can discourage and undermine the teachers’ confidence and ability to create better learning spaces. Last but not least, teachers in public and state-aided schools carryadded responsibilities and duties of contributing to other assignments other than teaching. Being available even on offdays to contribute to non-teaching duties is explainable and justifiable in the short run but can be deleterious in the long game. While private schools with better funds at their disposal have the wherewithal to provide teacher-friendly spaces and flexible working environments, it’s the non-private institutions that suffer the most.
What we must do?
It is no exaggeration that such setbacks can truly disincentivize young people from choosing teaching as a profession and owing to this, more often than not, teaching in our part of the world becomes a last refuge for people against unemployment and not a first choice. This also tampers their performance, thereby creating vicious cycles of poor results.
Efforts must be made to organize counselling sessions for teachers where they can express not just their grievances but also their doubts and fears. For this, we need a network of dedicated safe spaces consisting oflocal NGOs and mental health experts. We also need to configure how we view efficiency and hard work. Long working hours do not necessarily mean better outcomes. It can very well turn into disasters and senseless labour.
Efforts are required to make working hours and schedules more teacher-friendly with adequate time for leisure and relaxation. At HEEALS, we believe that proper mental health cannot be looked at in a separate silo. It must be seen as one ingredient of a larger system.
Mental health’s intersection with physical, social personal and sexual health should also be explored more to provide better results. Creating helplines and safe avenues for discussions and individual expressions can be good baby steps but we will eventually need more.
Ministry of Education provides psychosocial support through its MANODARPAN initiative to deliberate on mental health issues of both the teachers and students. Similar initiatives need to be multiplied with support of local institutions and communities which can participate in unleashing a social transformation.
Last but not least, what we need in the end is a shift in attitude where teaching as a profession must be treated with respect and thoughtfulness because teachers are also human beings and their emotional well-being matters because without teachers there are no students.
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