The All Sports Mental Attitude Award is presented annually to a senior male and female athlete(s) whose mental attitude has been judged to be an outstanding example of leadership in all phases of their student-athletic participations. They must also have been a four year sport participant in at least one varsity sport. Selection of this award is by vote of all the varsity sports coaches.

Tommy Kidwell was a contributor in two varsity sports of tennis and basketball He is the son of Jeff and Angie Kidwell. Maranda Wagler was a four year contributor in volleyball She is the daughter of Randy and Marla Wagler. Katie Wagler was a four year contributor in cross country and track. She is the daughter of Merlin and Phyllis Wagler.

The Anthony S. Tony Murphy & Brandon Kyle Wagler Academic Athlete Award academic athlete award is presented each year to the top ranking senior female and male student-athlete or athletes. To be eligible for this award, a student athlete must participate in at least one varsity sport all four years. Andrea Graber has been a four contributor in cross country She is the daughter of David Wayne and Sharon Sue Graber. Logan Graber has been a four year contributor in tennis and baseball He is the son of Nathan and Anita Graber.

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Barr-Reeve Athletic Awards | Sports | washtimesherald.com - Washington Times Herald

Drew Kibler and Andrew Seliskar finished third and fourth, respectively, to also earn Olympic berths as relay swimmers.

Lilly King is headed back to the Olympics after a victory in the 100-meter breaststroke, ensuring she will have another big platform in Tokyo to rip into drug cheats and muse on pretty much anything else that pops into her mind.

Its kind of what I expected, King said.

The entire night went largely as expected. Defending Olympic champion Ryan Murphy and former world record-holder Regan Smith claimed the 100 backstroke events.

Murphy is going back to the Olympics to defend Americas dominance in the men's backstroke.

The 25-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, held on to win the 100 back the first of two spots he hopes to claim in his bid to pull off another backstroke sweep at the Tokyo Games.

I got through it, Murphy said. It's really exciting to be going back to another Olympics.

He won both the 100 and 200 in Rio, extending a U.S. winning streak in the men's events that began after the 1992 Barcelona Games three years before Murphy was born.

His winning time was 52.33.

On the women's side, Regan Smith claimed her first Olympic berth in the 100 back.

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Blake Pieroni comes up short qualifying for Tokyo Games in the 200-meter freestyle - The Times of Northwest Indiana

Home Wrestling News Alexander Wolfe Has A Positive Outlook On His Future, Going Back To His Roots In Pro Wrestling

Alexander Wolfe is keeping a positive mental attitude as he explores whats next in his professional wrestling career.

Axel Tischer, aka Alexander Wolfe, recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about his wrestling career, which includes a six-year run in WWE. It was originally reported that Tischer was released by WWE in May, which he later clarified and said that the company was allowing his contract to expire.

Officially a free agent as of June 16, the former NXT Tag Team Champion spoke about the nature of his release, explaining that its unfortunate to be let go, but hes also understanding in that its a business decision and nothing personal. Tischer said he could be negative about it but hed rather focus on the positive, which includes finding confidence in himself and finding success somewhere else in the wrestling business.

Thats their decision and I kind of can be sour and sad and mad or angry, just cry a river, you know, be miserable. But life is too short and too beautiful to be that way. Also, Im very aware of what I can do and what my talent is and what I can do for a company, he said. I know for sure that thats not the finish for me, its not over.

And even with or without WWE, I will be a successful pro wrestler. I will make my way, even not with the WWE flag-waving. Im very confident enough to say that I will find my place again somewhere else, and Im also confident enough to say that I am aware of my abilities to keep on going. And thats what I will do. I will keep going and I will still be an active part in the ring. Also I will try out some side projects I have in my mind. Now is the best time to do this so instead of just whining and complaining, I believe I do not have the time for that. I need to be active, I need to hustle now more than before, and yeah it is what it is, Tischer explained, but Im super positive about it. And I cant wait to see what comes next in my future.

Asked about where his positive mindset comes from, Tischer said its really just how he approaches life in general. He knows its human to be emotional, but he wants to use everything hes learned to move forward in life. Not only will Tischer find success in wrestling somewhere else, but hes also happy to move home to Germany so he can be closer to his family again.

I think its the way I treat life in general someones and its human to be negative and sometimes to be positive. But my choice is to use all the knowledge, which I got over the six years working with WWE and just understand the process. That again, its not personal, they did not release me because I was a dick or because I was not good to work with or I wasnt professional. Thats not the case, Tischer said. The case was, they had to do this because of cost-cutting reasons, because of the pandemic, they cannot operate how they would love to, and I understand that. And so basically when youmy mentality is, the glass is always half full. And when youre concerned about bad things, bad things will happen to you. But when you concentrate, when you focus on positive sides, positive things will happen.

Its maybe a part of my belief, how life goes, but I always like want good with it, and in a time where negativity could overwhelm you, you have to stay strong and have to see the bright side of life. The bright side is, I can move back home, and see more often now my best friends. I can go back to my life I had before, which was a good life. Plus I created a brand. I had a chance to get the exposure under the WWE umbrella. I created six years of more knowledge, more skill set, more abilities to maybe pass onto somebody, maybe use it as tools for myself, he noted, because WWE made me a better performer and a better wrestler. So I now have the time to create myself how I see myself, how I would love to get presented right now by myself.

Related: Alexander Wolfe Happy He Got To Do His WWE Send-Off With Friends

Tischer says hes returning to the independent circuit for now, but hes re-entering that arena as his own boss. Noting that he can now present himself as he sees fit, he looks forward to creating something new using his talent and all of the skills hes learned over the past few years. Asked if there are any misconceptions he wants to correct or perhaps a new area he wants to explore, Tischer said its not a misunderstanding per se, but he wants to show people that they havent seen everything hes capable of yet.

Alot of people say that I did not really have the chance to show what Im capable of, and I would say yes and no. Because I had times where could show it, but I havent showed everything. I had more time to showcase my skills, my abilities, how to be in a whole match more in NXT UK than in all over the years before in NXT in the states and on SmackDown. But with that also, he noted, the character in Imperium, was more me than the guy in Sanity, which was [only] part of me.

Tischer said both versions of Alexander Wolfe had pulled from his real-life persona, but the Imperium version was more relatable because it came from his pre-WWE life. He said he appreciates the more entertaining side that Sanity allowed him to portray, but hell likely go back to his roots and lean into the pro wrestling side of things.

I look at wrestling [like] wrestling is art and its like with art, every artist has not the same painting skill. Everybodys different and everybodys selling his picture for a different audience. And [its] the same for wrestling. But I see more like the traditional wrestling style, like catch wrestling, just more like physical wrestling however you want to describe it, more as my thing, he stated. I like to do that more than the entertainment aspect with like dancing and singing around, which is also an aspect of it where its more entertainment, Im more on the pro wrestling side.

Future-wise, I probably will go a little bit back more to my roots to like pro wrestling, less entertainment. But also with all those years right now, just being in the biggest pro-wrestling entertainment company, a sports entertainment company, I created some knowledge which I also can use because sometimes you have to use different kinds of tools to success. And that also, thats the plan to go forward, he explained, just to have all the tools and when I need to be more entertaining, then I will be more entertaining. But preferred, I want to get more back to the foundation of professional wrestling.

Read More: EC3 Says Jay Briscoe Is The Main Reason He Went To Ring Of Honor, Proud Of The Story They Told

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Alexander Wolfe Has A Positive Outlook On His Future, Going Back To His Roots In Pro Wrestling - Wrestlezone

Pregnancy is a time of drastic hormonal and physiological changes. And for expecting mothers to deal with the aftermath of the second wave of Covid-19 with the virus still very much lurking out there can be a challenge. Not only does the pandemic make it difficult for them to avail appropriate medical assistance, but it also leads to stress and anxiety, which can be hard to manage in times when all one sees around and on TV and social media is news of gloom and doom. But none is stronger than the life force, and with little optimism and guidance, mums-to-be can enjoy a happy and healthy pregnancy, say new mothers, who have braved the pandemic to bring their bundles of joy into the world.

Stay calm, shut out news and social media

Sharanya JR, 29, from Pune, welcomed a baby girl in February. Being all by yourself is a way anxiety can creep into your mind, she cautions and adds, Not having family around to support you makes everything seem despondent. We missed celebrating with our family and friends. Also, the misery on social media is so much. To stay calm and positive, I prayed a lot and chanted the mantras I knew. Also, I spent time sitting alone on my balcony, without any gadgets, to relax.

While Ankita Naik, a 26-year-old new mum from Mumbai, was upset about her pregnancy initially, given the unsafe environment her child was going to be born into, she shares, Positive attitude is key. We focussed on taking all possible measures to protect the baby and me, and not panic. To generate happy thoughts and take charge of my mind, I meditated often, adding, I even got infected with the virus during my pregnancy, but we tackled it with will power, too.

Having a baby in such a crisis was terrifying for Nashiks Mamta Gupta, 32, but what came to her rescue was the guidance she got from her gynaecologist, in matters of both body and mind. My decision of choosing a small nursing home for prenatal care and delivery helped me a lot. I could ask every little doubt about the diet plans or exercises over text messages. It kept me calm and assured that nothing will go wrong, she shares, adding, To deal with stress and anxiety, I started doing yoga, listened to spiritual songs and also utilised my time doing some creative work, for which we otherwise are too busy. Spending time like this also helped keep the negativity on social media and news channels at bay.

Focus on your mental health, say experts

During pregnancy, it is common to have worries about birth and parenthood. However, Covid-19 has created an unprecedented situation. Fear of death and concern for the newborn are causing stress in pregnant women, which can substantially increase their risk during pregnancy and childbirth. Prolonged duration of stress can cause high blood pressure in them and increase the risk of pre-eclampsia, pre-term delivery or miscarriage, and low birth weight and developmental delays in the baby. Stress can also cause anxiety and depression, and has been found to contribute to postpartum depression, explains Dr Gauri Agarwal, a gynaecologist.

To this, Kamna Chhiber, clinical psychologist, adds, Focusing on mental health allows one to maintain positivity and stay resilient in the face of difficulties. Pregnancy in itself can bring numerous challenges due to the changes the body goes through, as well as the changes in routines that are likely to happen. Thus, one must focus on maintaining ones mental health and well-being to be able to enjoy this important phase of life.

On how mums-to-be can take charge of their mental health, Chhiber suggests, One needs to accept the emotional experiences, including feeling anxious and low. Focusing on things that one can control is crucial. Sharing experiences is helpful and taking support from loved ones helps, too.

Reach out to your doctor

Feeling guilty about having a baby during the ongoing pandemic is misplaced, points out Dr Agarwal, as she says, We dont control our surroundings, but we can control how we act. Alongside any physical discomfort, we are also advising expecting mothers to watch out for difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, loss of appetite or overeating, a feeling of frustration, anger or sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in being around other people or excessive need to be around other people, or feeling scared to be alone, as it can signify stress. If you are too distraught, feel free to pick up the phone and reach out to your gynaecologist as informative counselling helps a lot.

Adds Dr Chhiber, Letting go of the guilt is important by recognising that the circumstances we find ourselves in are not in our control and we must keep taking steps to stay safe and also simultaneously maintain a good quality of life.

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Notes for mums-to-be from new mothers: Positive attitude is key - Hindustan Times

As community heroes and Attitude Pride Award recipients go, they dont often come bolder and better than David Paisley, whose tireless campaigning against the trans-exclusionary agenda of the LGB Alliance has put him in the firing line of powerful and hostile forces.

Currently starring in BBC One Scotlands soap opera River City, actor and activist David first made tabloid headlines in a Holby City/Casualty crossover episode way back in 2002 when he kissed his on-screen boyfriend, played by Lee Warburton.

I never really worried about the impact on my career, says David in the Attitude Summer issue, out now to download and to order globally.

I think I just felt it was too important to be visible. A lot of the representation that was on TV was by actors that didnt identify as LGBT, which is because there werent that many out gay actors at the time.

"Even now, I get messages from people saying, That kiss in Casualty was the first time I realised that I was gay. For people to recognise something of themselves in the characters Ive played, thats a real privilege.

More recently, Davids activism has built momentum on social media, where he has become a vocal critic of the LGB Alliance and its anti-trans stance.

David Paisley is one of 10 everyday LGBTQ heroes honoured with an Attitude Pride Award in the Attitude Summer issue, out now to download and to order globally

Formed in 2019, the LGB Alliance on one hand claims to represent the needs of gay, lesbian and bisexual people, but with the other often campaigns to undermine the trans communitys fundamental rights.

As someone whos always been quite outspoken about equality and respecting diversity, I feel like its even more important for cisgendered gay men like myself to speak up in support of the trans community, given what theyre going through, the toxic environment and how challenging it must be to be a trans person in the UK right now, says David.

Organisations such as the LGB Alliance specifically exist to campaign against trans rights, and they say theyre doing so in my name, as a gay person, and they absolutely do not speak for me. Theyre being given a platform to campaign against the rights of people from my community.

"Its so important to speak out about the fact that we are one community, and we need to support one another, and allow us not to be divided, because thats what they seek.

The LGB Alliances track record is a shady one. The group actively campaign against a ban on conversion therapy, in particular, for the rights of religious organisations to continue offering the controversial practice, and have also campaigned against the Scottish Hate Crime Bill.

It doesnt make any sense that an organisation that says its about protecting the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people campaigns against moves to protect those people, adds David.

Hes acutely aware that its also important to be the right kind of ally: Its vital that people who have a platform speak out in support of others. But never speak over. I think thats another important thing, if youre an ally to sections of the community, its really important to uplift other people, provide a platform for them to speak, share their experiences.

"Im a white, cis gay man they hold a lot of privilege in the gay community. Theyre often listened to a lot more than other members of the community: women, ethnic minorities, trans people, nonbinary people. The focus should be on the less-often-heard members of the community.

The division between the LGB and T letters of the expansive queer acronym is disheartening to see, and only serves to support the antiLGBTQ+ groups that seek to suppress us all. At the heart of it, David believes, is a lack of compassion for the struggles other people face.

Its about this real discomfort that people have with things that are different, things that they dont understand, he says. Ill never understand what its like to be a trans person or a non-binary person, but as a human being I have empathy, I can look at peoples experiences and listen.

A lot of what were seeing is an echo of the homophobia that I experienced in the 90s and early 00s. A lot of the criticism that gets levelled at the trans community is very familiar: that theyre a danger to children, perverted, not to be trusted. Its about creating a societal scapegoat. That was how we were treated, as gay men, thats where my empathy is rooted.

In May, the LGB Alliance was granted charitable status, a situation that caused uproar since most in the LGBTQ+ community perceive them as a hate group because of their anti-trans actions.

They continually campaign online and speak about trans rights and gender issues. Thats why they exist, says David.

So the idea that the Charity Commission would then legitimise their message by making them a registered charity is abhorrent. Their message is toxic and harmful, not just to the trans community, but to the entire community, because theyre also campaigning against the ban on conversion therapy. They dont want it banned. They have campaigned against hate crime legislation. That has an impact on the entire LGBT community.

David highlights how the group does no positive work to actually uplift LGB rights. There is even speculation that the group is associated with the American Christian right, and critics are curious about the funding that the LGB Alliance receives.

Certainly, the things that they campaign on align very closely with Christian evangelical fundamentalists in America who are very wealthy, David says, adding that the only thing that we can really do is point this out, and hope that people recognise that the group is harmful and toxic.

David also highlights how the LGB Alliances views seem to be infiltrating government policy.

The LGBT Action Plan has been abandoned by the Conservative government. Seeing initiatives that were supposed to help LGBT people be abandoned, and commitments to equality and diversity being watered down should concern everyone. Were seeing organisations like Stonewall having their funding threatened [by Equalities Minister Liz Truss], because theres a campaign against them to have their funding cut.

Aiming to provide a ray of light in a grey sky, David is part of a group that launched the campaign and fundraising platform LGBT+ Glitterati, and a not-for-profit, Together LGBTQ, to promote equality, diversity, cohesion and mutual support in the community.

Set up in reaction to a comment from a member of the LGB Alliance who exclaimed, Oh, its the typical gay glitterati, David decided to reclaim the insult and sells LGBT Glitteratibranded merchandise to fundraise for the Legal Defence Fund for Transgender Lives. Weve raised quite a lot of money. But largely what we want to do is just campaign in a positive way, to try and uplift other members of the community, he says.

David's public campaigning has led to him receiving torrents of online abuse that have left with severe anxiety, which worsened when someone sent him death threats.

It had a really difficult impact on my mental health and wellbeing. Ive also experienced harassment at my workplace. I had panic attacks. I couldnt leave the house. I didnt want to go back to work. I had to get help from the local mental health team, and try and get support.

On the day of his Pride Awards shoot, David is shaken by news of an ongoing police action investigating the worst of these threats: The online stuff was so toxic and harmful. There were accusations that I was a paedophile, and that I abused women and children. There were points where I considered taking my own life, I felt that the environment was so oppressive. My childhood was marked by abuse, so to see people freely accuse me of that kind of behaviour as if thats an OK thing to say about a gay man, caused me a lot of emotional difficulty.

He continues, When you come from a minority community that is historically oppressed, online abuse has a real impact on your wellbeing, your sense of safety, your sense of acceptance within society. I got to a point where I felt unsafe going outside. I felt unsafe being myself, being an out, open, gay man. It brought back a lot of experiences from my youth, and I had to reach out and get proper mental health support.

Despite the fact that his advocacy has had a personal impact, David believes its important to continue calling people out. No matter how much its impacted me personally, I cant imagine the stress and anxiety of being a trans person in the UK at the moment, given the public debate thats had about their lives every day. As much as it might have had a personal impact on my wellbeing, its going to be ten times more challenging for members of that community.

I can step away from this debate. I can turn the internet off and not look at those comments. I can go under a duvet and forget. Trans people cant step away from themselves and from societys transphobia. They cant, because thats their life, thats their day-to-day.

As Pride Award recipients go, David Paisley is a worthy hero.

Meet all this year's Attitude Pride Award winners in the Attitude Summer issue, out now.

Subscribe in print and get your first three issues for just 1 each, or digitally for just over 1.50 per issue.

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David Paisley: The gay soap star taking a stand against the LGB Alliance - attitude.co.uk

16/06/2021

Working with hospitality-focused individuals, businesses, groups and organisations, along with renowned experts from the fields of mental health, nutrition, exercise, finance and beyond, So Lets Talk looks to develop bespoke solutions for the specific needs of those who operate in or with the hospitality industry.

The mural project will see So Lets Talk and graffiti artist Shawn Sharpe, Good Good Graffiti, bring to the forefront specific issues that workers in the hospitality industry face, while the money raised throughout the campaign is set to help run crucial sessions for hospitality professionals, aiming to make a much healthier and happier industry.

Sharpe, a self-taught artist has been painting for just over 10 years, having painted with professional spray can art for 4 years. Starting out at the age of 18, he paints everything from classic graffiti, portraits, type, anamorphic pieces and more. He has also worked for the likes of Corona, Smirnoff and Revolution Bars.

Sponsored by Liverpool Cocktail Week (The Cocktail Week Co), the mural created by Sharpe is situated on the side of Pins Social Club on Duke Street, taking over 24 hours to create and using 40 spray cans. The Cocktail Week Co is exceptionally proud, excited and honoured to be working with So Lets Talk to help bring an end to the silence and darkness surrounding the hospitality industry.

Following the 18 months of intermittent closures, lockdowns and uncertainty the hospitality industry has seen a real decline in mental health.

Measuring 3.8m width and 2.9m length, So Lets Talk hopes the mural will spark important conversations to trigger a much needed change of attitude towards hospitality workers.

The idea behind the mural is to ask healthier questions before a work shift. Employees will usually ask their teams if they have the equipment they need to do their work, such as a bar blade, pens, lighters, etc. The question in hand becomes irrelevant if the person operating the equipment is funding it hard to function.

So Lets Talk looks to use the mural to change the questions up, asking how much valuable sleep did we get last night? When was the last time we had a home cooked meal? Without using the words ok or fine how are we really feeling today? Asking healthier questions will get a healthier response.

The idea behind these murals was to raise awareness about mental, physical and financial health in the hospitality industry, but also, what we do here at So Lets Talk. Were so grateful to Pins Social Club for gifting us the space, and for Shawn for doing such an incredible job. The money raised will not only help us to support a local artist, but it will also help us to run sessions for hospitality professionals; making it a much happier and healthier place to be.

Alongside Liverpool, So Lets Talk has previously brought the mural project to Manchesters Northern Quarter with plans to take the campaign to other major UK cities, including Glasgow, Birmingham and London.

So Lets Talk was created by Patrick Howley in January 2020. Howley has spent well over a decade in the hospitality industry, where earning his stripes led to a destructive cycle of long hours, disrupted sleeping patterns, poor nutrition, high alcohol consumption and recreational drug use.

The decision to create So Lets Talk was inspired by Howleys experiences and lessons learned in not having an avenue for help during his time of need. He hopes to support others in a similar situation.

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Mural highlighting mental health in hospitality industry to be created at PINS Social Club - The Guide Liverpool

By:Theresa-Anne Clarke Harter, Peak Associate

For those with certain mental health concerns, a return to in-person learning may mean heightened anxiety, social challenges, and more. Others may feel relieved at the thought of returning to school, as remote learnings lack of designated learning spaces, proper equipment, and structure present unique challenges. But with this return, SFU needs to ensure they accommodate all students and offer proper mental health support.

We will inevitably see a rise in mental health struggles among students as we return to in-person learning. In recent years, SFU has added the option of drop-in Health & Counselling advising sessions where students can be referred to supports that would best suit their needs. This service can be initially accessed almost immediately. Unfortunately, due to lengthy waitlists, it can be difficult to get help after your first session.

During the pandemic, professors were often more understanding about late assignments and the struggles that come with learning online. This attitude needs to translate to SFUs return to campus, as students will continue to have personal struggles that are just as valid. Students should be able to access help without rehashing trauma or sharing personal events with a near stranger. The inflexibility of academia doesnt reflect real human needs. In fact, it often lacks empathy.

Students will undoubtedly need more support and understanding. We have yet to see the repercussions this shared trauma will have on ourselves and our communities. To engage healthily with our learning environment, SFU must improve their mental health supports. Investing more in these health supports could involve increasing funding for the Centre for Accessible Learning, Health & Counselling, and campus groups that advocate for marginalized students.

Another learning barrier I would like to see dismantled as we return to in-person classes is SFUs bureaucratic application processes for accessing support. I recently had a personal experience with this while pursuing learning accommodations for my ADHD. Numerous forms some that may require you to see a new doctor or psychiatrist just to prove a condition youve already been diagnosed with can feel very invalidating. Not to mention, this presents barriers to people who experience executive dysfunction. The employees at CAL are lovely, empathetic, and helpful individuals, but it is the bureaucratic processes the institution inflicts on us that are the problem. This red tape puts up so many barriers that many students searching for help give up halfway through the process.

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A focus on mental health is needed for post-pandemic life - The Peak

Stigma is the cornerstone of the stumbling blocks that mar every step in the process to reduce the prevalence of mental illness. From acceptance of symptoms of mental illness to acceptance of treatment to rehabilitation, there is a stigma attached to every stage of recovery. Society forces the mentally ill to wander the streets, destitute and alone, when empathy, effort, and scientific care can resolve mental illness, writes Magsaysay Award winnerDr BHARAT VATWANI.

THE bottleneck for the mentally ill in the Indian subcontinent, and one of the reasons for the virulent spread of psychiatric illness in our country is the stigma associated with it.

Physical illnesses rarely carry any stigma. Mental illness carries a stigma that can be segregated into two types:

Stigma leads to social loneliness, isolation and exclusion, and consequently poor social support. It causes mentally ill people to feel ashamed for something beyond their control. Stigma prevents the mentally ill from seeking the help they need, and going further, has a detrimental effect on treatment outcomes.

The stigma of mental illness got deeply entrenched over centuries of human existence. Given its omnipotent prevalence, both the patient and the relatives believe in the dogma of stigma. They are not ready to disclose their problem to themselves or others and are unprepared to accept the problem exists in society.

Also read:From panic attacks to obsessive-compulsive disorders, how COVID-19 has taken a toll on mental health

So, ultimately, mental illness is boxed in, closeted and festooned. With no breathing space, the claustrophobia of thoughts, emotions, behaviours and treatment options sets in.

Internally, the illness starts multiplying manifold, becomes gangrenous, and at a subconscious level, ultimately expunges the mentally ill from within their selves, their families and their societies. And thus are born thewanderingmentally ill. They keep their mental illness, again at a subconscious level, in stagnated momentum, like a rolling stone that gathers no moss. No further additions or subtractions are made to their thoughts, emotions, actions and treatment options, and wandering becomes a way of life.

As schizophrenics walk around, disconnected from society, they attempt to drown their anxiety by the sheer physicality of momentum and wandering.

The Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation, an NGO, addresses this physicality, momentum and wandering.

One has to connect to the mentally ill by voice, body language, demeanour, eye contact and above all, through the soul.

Empathy is not sympathy, it is not pity, it is not largesse, it is not benevolence. It is beyond all these. It is the honest ability to communicate to the man on the streets, There, but for the grace of a God above, go I. Therefore, I am you, and you are I.

The moment true empathy is established, the claustrophobia of thought, emotions and actions that was festering within the psyche of the destitute, yields like a pricked balloon. When gently dealt with, the wandering destitute agrees to get into the ambulance of our NGO.

In some cases, the destitute are brought to the centre by means other than by ambulance. To cite one instance, our social worker, Farzana Ansari, got down for refreshments during a train journey. She saw a mentally ill destitute, established a rapport with him, got him onto the train and brought him to our rehabilitation centre at a ten-hour distance.

In many instances, college students who have some exposure to our work cajole the destitute walking on the street to sit on their motorcycles and bring them to our centre, often from a fairly long distance. How do they achieve this? From the communication of empathy.

The destitute have never been bathed, nor have they thought of cleaning up themselves, as they have internalised the stigma against their selves. A revulsion towards their illness has set deep in their psyches over months, years, even decades.

The Shraddha staff break this psychic wall. They get fresh clothes, trim their forests of matted hair and beards. Amongst the female destitute, female staff attend to their menstrual hygiene. The acceptance of the destitute as humans makes them accept themselves as humans.

A complete and balanced meal is provided. Shraddha doctors attend to maladies such as fever, pneumonia, typhoid and malaria, a common plight of the wandering mentally ill. Every act embodies care and compassion.

A routine is established: breakfast-lunch-dinner followed by morning-noon-night medicines. Psychiatric medication is started to counter the psychiatric problem scientifically. From day one, the patient is addressed by his name, not a number, as is common in situations of confinements.

Also read:Mental health biggest casualty in second wave

The patients are cajoled and pleaded with, in gentle soothing tones, to reveal their names, their parents names, their sisters names. Soon, they recall the name of their husband or wife, their children, kith and kin, the village they were born in, the district they belong to, the school they studied in, the theatre they watched their favourite movies at, the festivals they celebrated with their family, the gods they revered These are questions no one has ever asked them, to which they had almost forgotten the answers.

The capacity to make a wandering mentally ill destitute believe he has an identity and belongs, comes from asking simple questions. It is not rocket science but interpersonal rapport at the level of empathy.

The patient is pushed gently into joining group activities such as physical exercise or games such as rubber ball, cricket, football, throwball, or yoga in an open environment and group prayer meetings in a multi-cultural setting. Their specific skills allow the patient to work in gardening, farming, masonry, electrical repair work, attending to cattle, cooking, cutting vegetables and general cleaning of the premises.

Recognising their inherent personality recreates a bygone psychic era for the patient and the balloon of stigma pricks further.

The destitute are made to understand that their contributions are unique, one-of-a-kind, valuable and cherished even after they have left the centre.

Doctors at Shraddha make it a standard protocol to have all patients present (male/female separately) while making their rounds. Unless physical examination demands privacy, the doctors address each of them by name in the presence of others.

Their tone, body language, attitude and eye contact communicate empathy, but the visual/aural presence of the others disseminates empathy to all in the room. Each destitute present (in the large room) realises that caring, concerned people are addressing them individually.

Also read:India is failing the mentally ill as abuses continue

An entire team of qualified professional social workers is present during these rounds. They belong to different states of India, speak varied dialects and make patients from all over India feel comfortable because they are spoken to in a language and dialect they understand, and grew up with, which is a part of their collective unconscious. This often results in abreaction and emotional catharsis among the patients.

A patient, after about two months of treatment, broke down, spontaneously reached out, and taking a pen from the doctors hands, wrote a mobile number in his file in tremulous writing. It was his brothers number.

Since the destitute had recovered substantially, an immediate call was placed to the number (in front of the other patients) and he spoke on the phone in an emotionally gut-wrenching voice to his brother on the other end of the line. The mobile was kept in speaker on mode, and the conversation made the entire room reverberate with empathy, empathy and more empathy. Each patient desired and wished this fellow inmate (nay, fellow soul-mate) goes home.

Sometimes, bonds so deep develop that one recovered patient says he would return home only after he escorts safely two other recovered destitute on their reunion trip.

Till a few months ago, these patients were unknown to one another, but their proximity shatters the social isolation and loneliness. Their ongoing recovery has the destitute forge bonds of empathy, regardless of what sects or classes they belong to.

Some aspects of recovery simply amount to humans establishing and proclaiming their right to be human, and interpersonal emotional rapport weaving its magic.

Simple events, such as the doctors sipping tea and biscuits during their rounds make the patients want to partake in a biscuit fest! The request is never turned down. Instantaneously, the doctors and patients become equals.

On occasions, the destitute reaches out and takes the water bottle of the doctor and drinks from it. This is encouraged, not denied. The entire group of 80-odd male patients notices. The worst off, be they catatonic or severely depressed, perceive a flickering of hope in their innermost unconsciousness.

Patients may take months or a year to recover, but every act of camaraderie makes them believe in life. Their image in their own eyes goes on the upswing. They are unchained from the shackles of stigma, they are back from the skeletons of the dead.

Finally comes the planning of the Shraddha reunion trips for the recovered destitute, the return trip to their homeland. This is something all of them now await and anticipate with bated breath. They have seen two or three patients, on average, get the doctors OK to leave the rehabilitation centre every day.

Escorted by social workers from their state, the recovered men and women set off for home. Deep down, the others have come to understand that their turn shall come. Hope is rekindled in lost souls. And loved ones forgotten because of the blunting of emotional faculties by the onslaught of mental illness, are often re-remembered with fervour and passion.

As the recovering men and women remember their children and wonder how their loved ones and dependents must be faring without them, every patient becomes a kindred spirit to the other. In this spirit, Shraddha exorcises the stigma that has come to be associated with mental illness over centuries.

(To be concluded in part 2.)

(Dr Bharat Vatwani is a Magsaysay Award winner. The views expressed are personal.)

Read more:
Using Empathy to Shatter the Stigma of Mental Illness - The Leaflet

The following article was produced in partnership with Myer.

The stereotypical Australian man is tough, stoic and rugged. A hunter, not a gatherer; a blokes bloke with a devil-may-care attitude; someone who isnt afraid to get dirty. These stereotypes, however, are beyond outdated.

This week is Mens Health Week and were asking Australian men to look beyond those stereotypes and start taking better care of themselves.

Celebrated around the world, Mens Health Week seeks to put an emphasis on not just the mental health of men, but their general health as a whole. Its easy to dismiss things like Mens Health Week, but its not something we should take lightly.

Indeed, thats the core of the issue. Many men are still reluctant to look after themselves or talk about mens health out of a fear of not being considered manly. But its exactly this macho culture we often find ourselves engaging with that really does a number on our health.

On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives, according to BeyondBlue. Furthermore, men make up an average seven out of every nine suicides every single day in Australia. Its the leading cause of male deaths in this country, more than double the road toll. Its something we need to take more seriously.

The subject of mens mental health may finally be receiving more attention, but there is still much work to be done. Men continue to believe they cant show emotion, and if they do, theyre told to man up. And this is despite the well-known saying real men cry. Its time we start practising what we preach.

The same goes for our general health, too. Just as we men bottle things up when it comes to our mental health, we also tend to ignore our general health too. But again, men are at particular risk of many different health issues: 64.8% of skin cancer deaths in 2020 were men, 66.5% of deaths caused by liver disease were men and 58.9% of deaths caused by lung cancer were also male.

This all sounds grim, but the reality is that it doesnt take much to improve both your general and mental health and you can do both at the same time. Having a strong, consistent daily grooming routine, for example, isnt just great for keeping you looking good, but its also incredibly valuable when it comes to feeling good.

Myer, Australias favourite retailer for a variety of menswear and grooming products, is helping to lead the charge against dated male stereotypes, particularly those around grooming and personal maintenance.

Beauty is still very much an industry associated with women, with men worried that if theyre seen spending too much time thinking about beauty or grooming products, that theyre somehow less of a man.

Change is happening, as the mens skincare market is growing at around 10 per cent each year. Its certainly positive, but this figure needs to increase and more men need to be exposed to, and educated on, the benefits of investing in quality beauty products.

No matter how tough the facade one presents to the world, all men have different skin types with different needs: sensitive, oily, dry Looking after your specific skin type is imperative and Myers collection of stocked brands for men including the likes of Lab Series, Kiehls, Asop, Hunter Lab and Clinique offer some of the finest body washes, moisturisers, facial cleansers and more, all with the collective goal of helping men look and feel better in their body.

Products from the mentioned above brands are all formulated specifically for men. Not just in terms of skin type, but for convenience too.

Men dont feel the need to spend hours in the shower each morning. We like the process to be as quick and efficient as possible. Myers carefully curated collection of mens beauty and grooming products all offer convenience in a bottle, being quickly absorbed by the skin and without leaving a sticky residue.

Most important of all, theyre designed to perform, and after just a few uses youll soon wonder how you ever managed to live without them.

The same can be said of fragrance. While women will likely have their own virtual perfume shop at home, men will more than likely have one or two fragrances. If they do decide to change up their everyday smell, theyd rather their partner go out and buy it for them than be seen shopping for the latest fragrances themselves.

But why? The vast majority of men do apply cologne on a daily basis, so we shouldnt feel embarrassed to go shopping for a bottle of something new. Just the simple ritual of applying a cologne each day can help change a mans approach to the world. Smell good, feel good.

With such a wide range of choice on offer too, with Myer stocking leading name brands including Hugo Boss, Paco Rabanne, Chanel, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, you dont even need to think about walking from store to store to find something new. Everything you need is under one roof.

Its no secret why Myer is shining the spotlight on Mens Health Week. Not only does it stock a huge range of products dedicated to male beauty and grooming, but it is a business that cares strongly about its customers, wanting to give them the best possible in-store and online experiences and helping them to find the products that perfectly align with their lifestyle.

Mens health doesnt have to be complicated invest in a strong routine with quality habits and products, and you can make sure youre always in tip-top shape.

Continued here:
Australian Men Urged To Improve Grooming Habits For Better Mental Health - DMARGE

Renee Singh

Many of us are going through a super level of metamorphosis, trying to adjust to the new normal that has become a way of life for us now.

Slowly and steadily as the truth of our existing situation is settling in, we are silently settling within. It is actually a subtle shift.

Over the years, the human mind has learnt to be malleable in order to succeed. It knows how to adjust to its ever-changing circumstances and environment, so that it could be in a more productive phase constantly.

New beliefs

Slowly, as we assimilate all the new information we have been provided with, we have been working on changing our own belief system, so that we can be at an amicable level of adjustment to the world around us. This is the only way we can be viably productive, as we need to feel comfortable at all levels of functioning in society, in order to feel like winners. We are winners if we are allowing a channelised flow of our energy in the right direction.

Build a better self-image

This is how you see yourself. Are you seeing yourself as confident and assertive, or shy and scared? Do you see the positive in people, or the negative? Your opinion of yourself is what eventually makes or breaks you.

Positive thinking is a waste of time if you do it selectively. It determines how high you fly. We have the power to lift our self image or lower it.

Decision making skills

Ultimately it is your decision making skill that determines where you ultimately land yourself. Your sub-conscious mind is your powerhouse and your decision-maker.

Replay mental video

We think in pictures. The way we talk to ourselves, makes us create pictures mentally and that in turn controls how we feel emotionally.

We need to replay an event in our minds and then start positive self talk, telling ourselves how great we feel.

Talk your way to success

Often we are harsh and judgmental about ourselves. We are critical about every little thing we do. This, of course, arises from a negative self image. So, we need to change our perception of ourselves.

Importance of attitude

Attitude is more important than education, money or circumstances we cannot control. The one thing we are completely in charge of is our attitude. As the saying is that in life 10 per cent is what actually happens, and 90 per cent is how we react to it.

Know what you want

We are mostly scared to look within to see what we really want, what is it that our heart truly wants.

We are taught as kids not to have desires, but it needs to be understood that challenges are important for growth. Desire creates a focus and challenges the mind, which leads to growth.

Unlimited growth

Every human being needs to tap his potential. He needs to understand that sky is the limit. All is within our control, as long as we allow it.

Keeping all these factors in perspective, life should definitely become an exciting and fulfilling journey.

(Singh is a Chandigarh-based psycho therapist)

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The human mind knows how to adjust to its ever-changing circumstances - The Tribune India