Under the Umbrella

Name of the activity: Under the Umbrella

Country/NMO: Pakistan (IFMSA-Pakistan)

Program: Mental Health

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Education. Education on health issues for specific societal groups, either in the form of projects (set of tasks for a certain group over a fixed period of time), events (something notable that happens) or conferences (form meeting about ideas related to a particular topic, usually over several days).

General description:

Following the methodology that is four small groups in two rooms with two speakers in each group, the medical and non-medical audience will be present. It will be a two-day activity, three-hour sessions. The interactive session starts by defining the mental health and its constituents as emotional, social and psychological well-being. These sessions will tend to clarify the concept that mental sickness Is a disease and create awareness about how seeking professional help in the case of mental disorders is not a shameful act. Moving on to the concept of how self-diagnosis in the case of mental disorders is harmful and teaching the importance of self-evaluation and then seeking professional help from a psychiatrist. To not make it boring, the breaks will include psychological energizers and fillers like painting or scribbling activities.

Focus area:

Mental Health advocacy and public awareness

Problem statement:

Activity is based on the importance of Mental Health. Evidence suggests that 450 million people worldwide are impacted by mental health. Major Depression ranks fourth among the top 10 leading cause of disease worldwide. One million people commit suicide while 10 to 20 million attempt it.

Depression in the country was much higher than the world average while its incidence was alarmingly greater in Urban centers than Rural districts.”

“53.4 % People in Lahore are affected by Mental illness”

Target groups:

Medical students, Other Students

Beneficiaries:

Medical students, Other Students

Objectives and indicators of success:

To create awareness about the importance of mental health and to clarify that mental sickness is a disease.

Questionnaires will be distributed before and after the activity specifically designed to distinguish the knowledge

To educate about various types of mental health disorders and to elaborate the concept of self- evaluation for diagnosis.

By the end of the sessions, Target population will have the knowledge about different types of mental Disorders and will be able to self-analyse themselves to make sure whether they are suffering from any kinds of disorders or not. Its success will be reflected from the statistical data collected from evaluation forms.

To tackle any kinds of stigmas or myths related to Mental Health issues.

During the activity, all the stigmas or myths will be collected anonymously on the chits and will be discussed individually. At the end of each session, students will openly discuss about any kinds of mental health issues they had in the past which will indicate the success for destigmatization.

Methodology:

The activity is a two-day activity involving interactive sessions on Mental Health and related issues and Suicide. The Speakers will then discuss on various aspects of Mental Health including Mental Sickness as a Disease

Biological evidence and concepts of people suffering from mental sickness

Concept of Social, Psychological and Emotional Well being as a quota of health as stated by health professionals.

Various Mental Health Disorders like Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, MDD, MAAD etc.

Myths and stigmas related to Mental Health.

Suicide, various factors leading up to it and what preventive measure can be taken.

During the sessions, Students will be engaged in different fillers and training like Training for Self- analysis of Mental Health, Self-Training to get through a Panic or Anxiety Attack as recommended by professionals.

Plans for evaluation:

Evaluation is done through the pre and post evaluation forms that will be given to the students

before and after the activity respectively. Comparative analysis of these forms will show the

effectiveness of the activity.