Youth in Mental Health Series #4

SDG 4: Quality Education

Goal: Ensure inclusive, equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all

Education is the key to success and that which will enable other SDGs to be achieved. Through education, most people are able to mitigate the challenges faced in life and break the cycle of poverty. Education therefore not only reduces inequalities, but also empowers people to live healthier and more sustainable lives. The knowledge that is attained through education helps open doors to a lot of opportunities and is crucial to fostering tolerance between people which contributes to more peaceful societies.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the largest number of children out of school worldwide with more than half of the children living in SSA not enrolled for school. Out of this proportion, women and girls have a harder time accessing education compared to their male counterparts. Girls still face barriers to entering both primary and secondary school and as a result, these disadvantages in education translate into lack of access to skills and limited opportunities in the labour market for young women. According to UNESCO, the percentage of out-of-school children among primary-school-age children declined from 40% to 22% in SSA between 2000 and 2012, however, despite this improvement, studies show that many children do not acquire the basic reading and mathematical skills with fewer than half of the students completing primary education attaining the minimum proficiency levels in maths and reading. Lack of trained teachers and the poor conditions of schools in many parts of the world especially in developing countries greatly affect the quality of education. 

There is need to advocate for governments to place education as a priority in both policy and practice and commit to providing free primary school education to all including vulnerable and marginalized groups. More investments are needed for resources that will be used to improve the conditions of schools in developing countries.

SDG 4 at a Glance in Kenya

Interventions (As of June 2017)

1.       The teachers service commission (TSC) has employed more teachers and this has improved the teacher-student and teacher-pupil ratio

2.       The implementation of the Digital Literacy Programme (ICT Integration in Primary Education). This programme aims to integrate ICT into teaching and learning for pupils in primary schools. In 2014, data from 65 developing countries showed that the average percentage of schools with access to computers and the Internet for teaching purposes is less than 40 per cent in more than half of sub-Saharan countries.

3.       Kenya introduced the re-entry policy in 1994; in 2009, the Ministry of Education (MOE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation launched the National School Health Policy (NSHP). Both documents address dropout cases of young mothers who conceived while in school;

4.       Upscaling of the sanitary towels programme which enhance girls’ participation in learning. The amendment to the education act states “free, sufficient and quality sanitary towels" must be provided to every girl registered at school.

5.       Introduction of a Bursary Scheme to assist selected secondary school students.

6.       The Ministry of Education recently launched a policy on Education for Sustainable Development at all levels with them aim of improving access to quality education on sustainable development at all levels and in all social contexts, transforming society by reorienting education and helping people develop the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed for sustainable development

7.       Universities have held public lectures involving stakeholders on various issues related to SDGs and are attempting to modify curricula to reflect benefit to society

Article courtesy of UNDP, UNESCO

Youth in Mental Health Series #3

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Goal: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages

Good health and development go hand in hand. Healthy people are more likely to contribute to the social, economic and political development of their communities, whereas morbidity (illness) and mortality negatively affect economic growth and productivity. Good health is essential in ensuring economic and social development and poverty reduction is sustained. 

Conflicts, prolonged crises and health shocks increase health risks for people, including in countries that lack resilient systems for health. The Ebola crisis in West Africa is a good example of how the absence of a functional health system can cause the rapid spread of an epidemic and pose huge problems. In addition, inequalities and social exclusion driven by stigma, discrimination and marginalization just to mention a few limit people’s access to basic services and increase health risks. According to the World Bank, climate change could result in more than 100 million additional people living in poverty by 2030 and increased susceptibility to health risks.

Access to the needed health services is crucial for maintaining and improving health. On the other hand, services need to be affordable to all in order to protect people from being driven into poverty due to the high costs of healthcare (Every year 1 million Kenyans are driven below the poverty line by healthcare related expenditures) .Based on the above, the concept of Universal Health Coverage was developed.

Universal Health coverage(UHC)

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines UHC as “ensuring that all people have access to the needed promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that people do not suffer financial hardship when paying for these services.” UHC is therefore a global priority objective for WHO and a major goal for reform in many other countries.

Kenya reviewed the national health insurance scheme to include everyone capable of paying premiums rather than those in formal employment only. This raised more money for healthcare services and shifted the burden of healthcare costs from the individual to the collective, however, four out of every five Kenyans still lack access to medical insurance. There is therefore need for the country to adopt more innovative ways of financing its healthcare system. 

Currently, countries with universal health care include:

Austria, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,Ireland, Italy,Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova,the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

SDG 3 at a glance in Kenya

As of June 2017:

1.       Maternal mortality ratio and infant and under 5 mortality ratio remain high at 362/100,000 (362 deaths per 100,000 live births), 39/1000 live births (39 deaths per 1000 live births) and 52/1000 live births (52 deaths per 1000 live births) respectively.

SDG targets: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70,000 deaths per 100,000 live births and end preventable deaths of new-borns and children under 5.

2.       Malaria incidence is 225 per 1000 population. (Incidence is a measure of the probability of disease occurring in a population within a specified time period).

The WHO global technical strategy for Malaria (2016-2030) set a target of reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90% by 2030.

Current interventions addressing mortality rates and Malaria incidence

• Exclusive breast feeding campaigns in the country and introduction of supplemental foods is geared towards reducing mortality rates
• Mass distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito nets has reduced the incidence of Malaria especially among Lake Region communities

Other interventions

•      The Beyond Zero Campaign: An Initiative by H.E. the First Lady, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta. Mobile clinics have been delivered to all county referral hospitals. The mobile clinics have been able to treat mothers and children who would otherwise have been obliged to walk miles to seek treatment.
• ·         Mother waiting home (KIROR): An initiative of the West Pokot County Government. Expectant mothers move to KIROR near a health facility a few days to their expected day of delivery and are monitored during labour by the health personnel at the health facility thereby reducing congestion at the health facility while at the same time getting prompt services of a qualified personnel during delivery.

Article courtesy of: WHO, Ministry of Planning and Devolution, UNDP, IPS

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2017; MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORK PLACE

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better mental health. Mental health in the workplace is the theme of World Mental Health Day 2017.

It’s important to note that during our adult lives, a large proportion of our time is spent at work. Our experience in the workplace is one of the factors determining our overall wellbeing. Employers and managers who put in place workplace initiatives to promote mental health and to support employees who have mental disorders see gains not only in the health of their employees but also in their productivity at work. A negative working environment, on the other hand, may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism and lost productivity.

Depression and anxiety disorders are common mental disorders that have an impact on our ability to work, and to work productively. Globally, more than 300 million people suffer from depression, the leading cause of disability. More than 260 million are living with anxiety disorders. Many of these people live with both disorders. A recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity.

Article courtesy of World Health Organization

DEPRESSION; A SILENT KILLER

What is depression?

It is a mood disorder that is characterized by a low mood (feeling bummed out) and lack of interest in once-enjoyed activities among other symptoms for a period of two weeks. In it severe form, it can affect daily functioning and even lead to death due to suicide.

 How do you know you are depressed?

An episode of depression will present itself with feelings of sadness, sometimes crying too much, loss of interest in normal activities and hobbies.

 Other symptoms

·         Poor appetite or overeating

·         Poor sleep pattern or sleeping too much

·         Feeling tired all the time

·         Withdrawal

·         Poor concentration

·         Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

·         Slow thinking or slow body movements

·         Associated symptoms like body pains and headaches

·         Suicide thoughts or attempts

 Causes

Depression can be caused by many stressors in the social, work and environmental arena. Financial constraints, loss of a job, demanding jobs that do not give you time to unwind can trigger an episode.

Family conflicts, marital issues, and childbirth can cause one to develop depression. Life events like death of a loved one can be very life changing.

Traumatic events like rape and war will trigger a depressive episode. Other times genetics could predispose you and also the climate zones. 

Is it treatable?

The stigma of being branded with a mental disorder and the lack of knowledge of how to identify the presence of the disorder has been a major hindrance to the treatment of depression. The truth of the matter is this condition is treatable and one has the ability to return to full functional capacity and avert a crisis such as suicide. There are different modes of treatment that can be pursued in terms of management. Psychiatric medication is given to those with moderate to severe depression while those with mild depression undergo psychotherapy. In some scenarios, some patients will require both, while the medication is addressing the biochemistry, psychotherapy will be unpacking the psycho-social issues that precipitated the depression.

 Recovery might be slow and difficult but when you eventually come out of it, it’s like conquering Mt Everest… Awesome!. Encourage anybody out there who is having a tough time, talk to them or help them seek professional help. Remember depression is just like Flu, you cannot hide it long enough and it can just be treated as easily.

 Article courtesy of Citizen digital

4 tricks to rev up your memory

We all have moments of forgetfulness about where we put the keys, why we walked into a room, or what an object is called. Most likely, this reflects age-related changes in thinking skills. "In terms of brain function, everyone has a decline over time in all areas, with the exception of vocabulary," says Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist specializing in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

How memory works

Memory involves three processes: encoding, recording, and retrieval. The brain receives and encodes (takes in) new information; the brain then records (stores) the information; finally, the brain retrieves information when you need it.

Many brain regions are involved in this process. For example, the cerebral cortex — the large outer layer of the brain — acquires new information as input from our senses. The amygdala tags information as being worthy of storage. Nearby, the hippocampus stores memories. And the frontal lobes help us consciously retrieve information.

The aging memory

Many people notice a difference in memory starting in their 50s. That's when age-related chemical and structural changes can begin in brain regions involved with memory processing, such as the hippocampus or the frontal lobes. These changes may slow processing speed, making it hard to recall familiar names or words.

Other factors may be at play as well. "Working memory — a mental scratch pad that allows us to use important information throughout the day — is susceptible to depression, anxiety, and stress," explains Dr. Salinas, "and a lack of sleep can affect the brain's retention and use of information."

A medication side effect may also affect memory. For example, if you use an anti-anxiety drug like clonazepam (Klonopin), its sedating side effects can make your brain less alert and more sluggish. This in turn makes it more challenging for your brain to carry out the essential encoding, recording, and retrieval steps of memory.

Dr. Salinas says addressing these problems first often helps improve memory.

Memory tricks

Another way to boost memory is to make the most of the way it works. The following strategies may help.

1. Repeat what you hear out loud, such as someone's name, or an address, or a new idea. Repetition increases the likelihood you'll record the information and be able to retrieve it later. "With each repetition, your brain has another opportunity to encode the information," explains Dr. Salinas. "The connections between brain cells are reinforced, much like blazing a trail in the woods. The more you walk the same trail, the easier it is to walk it the next time."

2. Make a note of people you need to call, errands to run, and appointments. "We are much better at recognition than recall," Dr. Salinas explains. "With recognition, such as reading a list, you have additional hooks or hints that help you find the information you're looking for."

3. Make associations between old and new information. Connect a person's first name to something familiar. For example, if the person's name is Sandy, imagine that person on a beach. Or create a story around a shopping list. "Our brain is good at sequences, and putting things into a story helps. The more ridiculous, the more memorable it is.

 4. Divide information into chunks, such as taking a long number and remembering it more like a phone number. "It's hard to store a long number," says Dr. Salinas, "but easier to store little bits through working memory." If you're trying to memorize a speech for a wedding toast, focus on getting only one sentence or idea down at a time, not the whole speech in one take.

When tricks don't help

Forgetting something minor from time to time is probably normal. It's not normal when memory changes interfere with day-to-day functioning. Dr. Salinas recommends that you talk to your doctor if you're making more mistakes than usual at work; having difficulty paying the bills; or having trouble completing tasks, cooking, emailing, or doing chores. But don't panic. "More often than not, there's a temporary or reversible cause behind your memory slips. Once that's taken care of, you can get back to your more usual remembering self," says Dr. Salinas.

Article courtesy of Harvard health letters; July 2017