Page 6 - the SyI Quarterly 15

Know your Institute
Know your Institute

Resilience and Mental

Health

By Angela Vernon-Lawson CSyP FSyI

I grew up in a family unit where mental health was prominent. One of
my parents suffered from schizophrenia most of their adult life, believed
to be caused by untreated depression. As I got older so did the violent
episodes and aggressive behaviour as the paranoia became increasingly
worse. I thought it was normal until they suffered acute hallucinations
which made the violet outbursts worse. I was 16yrs old when the mental
health team explained ‘they will not get better’, ‘each episode will be
worse than the last’. At that time help was limited and mental health
a taboo subject outside of the family home. Fast forward and we have
initiatives such as the Mental Health Awareness Week demonstrating
society has taken a huge step forward to bring to the forefront the
importance of understanding the related issues and lessen the stigma
which can have a long-lasting impact.

The World Health Organisation refers to mental health as a state of mental well-being where the individual
can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully and is able to contribute to their
community providing a marker of where the majority of people should be. However, that is far from reality.
Brexit, followed by an unprecedented pandemic, an increase in social risk factors, geopolitical incidents and
an economic crisis has collectively contributed towards the increase in poor mental health and an increase
in social inequality by decreasing employment and socialisation opportunities; exacerbating the cycle
between mental health, and physical wellbeing, poor physical health, and mental wellbeing to a level where
we are emulating the attitude and behaviour cycle - Betari Box. Yet we recognise many symptoms; anxiety,
stress, tiredness, a prolonged dark mood, being quiet or withdrawn, emotional outbursts, or depression
but continue to use throwaway statements; ‘I have a lot going on at home’, ‘I’m too busy with work, elderly
parents, or the school run’ as avoidance to prevent dealing with such issues.

At times there is no rhyme or reason as to why someone’s mood changes as they are not particularly evident.
Symptoms maybe psychosomatic, physical, or emotional and some will remain medically unexplained.
We can empathise or offer sympathy to something tangible like a divorce or dealing with the passing of
someone close but understanding what may trigger a change in a person is difficult as human behaviour
is unpredictable. We are also coping with trolling, cyber bullying, exploitation, and prolonged periods of
isolation as COVID remains in the background with 1 in 40 people testing positive in England and Wales.

Most believe they will act or react in a certain way and shocked when we do not respond as expected which
can accelerate the situation undermining confidence, self-worth and allowing negative thoughts to creep in.
We also have added pressures from today’s current economic climate which heightens the doubt we have in
our own ability let alone help others. Nonetheless understanding that from time to time is okay as the limbic
system within the brain is centre to our emotional and behavioural responses which may exacerbate the way
we respond to people or situations - think Flight Freeze or Fight.

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