Kenang jasa ibu bapa dan orang yang lebih tua
Sabtu, 3 Muharram 1434 | Saturday, 17 November, 2012 | Issue 215
MOVING TOWARDS A HEALTHY STATE OF MIND Dewi Mohd Sofri
6,335. So being crazy is not even half of it. The
people or they could be our immediate fam-
therapist at RIPAS Hospital, said that treat-
estimated to become the main cause of loss
ment is a lifelong process and the length of
raised a point which many tend to overlook,
of effort and productivity globally by 2035,
time a patient takes to heal is dependent on
r e i t e r a t e d b y m a n y m e d i c a l
according to WHO. It is reported to be only
the period of time they have been unwell.
ticularly those in the field of psychiatry.
Schizophrenia is cited as one of the most
treatment. The earlier a person is diagnosed,
‘‘We need to respect their values and their
serious ones, and treatment for this particu-
the higher the chance that he or she can get
decisions, and just because they are mental
not, the first thing that comes to mind when
lar illness rivals that of heart diseases or even
health patients, we must not think we are
people hear the word ‘mental’ is ‘crazy’. For
cancer. According to a 2010 news report, Raja
doesn’t mean that we get to play doctor and
Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital
one often hears the phrase, ‘‘Jangantah
Olanzapine, a medication proven effective
To be referred to the Mental Health Unit, an
mechanisms to cope at some points in their
mental!’’, which translates to, ‘‘Don’t get
for the treatment of schizophrenia and also
individual must be referred by a health prac-
life. They do not need people to ridicule nor
bipolar disorder in 2009. It became the third
titioner. So if you feel that you or anyone you
pity them; what they need is support to heal
largest drug expenditure at the hospital.
know are exhibiting any signs pointing to a
and become better so they can integrate into
is: that it relates to the mind or intellect;
Mental disorders affect the quality of life
society again. Hopefully, with more aware-
just as any other physical illnesses do. They
safest way is to check in to a doctor at the
emotional and intellectual response of an
primary healthcare level, who is trained to
individual to external reality. In the medical
citizens and residents that are healthy in the
arena, the word is defined as related to, or
suffering from a severe episode, for example
ever, those in life-threatening situations are
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
affected by a psychiatric disorder or mentally
a schizophrenic, can act in a manner that is
advised to head straight to the Accident and
The Brunei Times
out of character, and endanger the person or
Dictionary.com defines health as a state of
those surrounding him or her. We all feel
It is unfortunate to note that society still
being free from illness or injury, or a persons
depressed or anxious at one time or another,
but if the condition becomes prolong then it
to the average person and combine it with a
disorders have been linked to cases of sub-
word that has a good one, what do you get?
mental health when they do not seem to even
health should be made a priority by all levels
of society, but the prevalent social stigma
defines mental health as ‘‘a state of well-
illnesses has sufferers ashamed; or family
being in which every individual realises his
members and friends not taking the matter
or her own potential, can cope with the nor-
seriously – even acknowledging it is difficult.
mal stresses of life, can work productively
and fruitfully, and is able to make a contri-
obstacles standing in the way of treatment
bution to her or his community’’. It is not just
There are 11,000 patients registered with
Dr Rifai Farid, a senior medical officer at
the Mental Health Service in Brunei, accord-
the Psychiatry Department, during the 2010
ing to the Minister of Health in a statement
made during this year’s World Mental Health
around 400,000, the figure can be considered
‘‘In Brunei and Malaysia, we still see
of all ages in every community around the
world are afflicted with depression, which is
often associated with chronic and critical
diseases, the minister noted in the state-
ment. It is the third cause of global mental
health burden in 2004, and expected to be-
causes of common mental illnesses in Brunei
to a combination of genetic factors and dif-
ministry official revealed that there are 300
ferent types of stresses. Those with a family
(!) children and adolescents aged between
history of mental illness are 10 per cent more
three to 18-years-old registered with the Psy-
susceptible of developing the same illness.
2009. They were diagnosed for depression,
knowledge of our family history? Let alone
emotional and behavioural problems. Mean-
family medical history. There are many who
while, data collected between 2002 and 2006
do not even know their own blood type. This
showed a 62 per cent increase in the number
is how ignorant we can be as a society.
of diagnosed cases of mental illnesses, at
During a seminar held in conjunction with
What’s School Time B2
Brain Topography, Volume 13, Number 3, 2001 Proceedings ISBET 2000: The 11th World Congress of the International Society for Brain Electromagnetic Topography, Germany November 16-19, 2000 Organizer: Maurer and Dierks In contrast, the parietal P300 source strength increased af- Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography ter acute (day 1), subacute and superimposed infusion (LOR
Recent advances in the immunologyand diagnosis of echinococcosisMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, The Queensland Institute of Medical Researchand The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, AustralianEchinococcosis is a cosmopolitan zoonosis caused by adult or larval sta