Life

Mind Matters: Clonard talks explore spirituality and mental health

LAST month The Irish News reported that since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, more people have taken their own lives in Northern Ireland than were killed during the Troubles.

According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2014 Northern Ireland continued to have the highest rate of suicide in the UK for the second consecutive year.

Professor Siobhan O’Neill, from Ulster University’s Psychology Research Institute, reported to the BBC recently that there may well be a link between the decades of conflict and the deaths of some of those who have taken their lives in times of relative peace.

Areas of social deprivation have often been places that have been exposed to conflict and here the suicide rate has often been particularly high. It is generally recognised that a majority of those dying by suicide also have an underlying mental-health disorder.

As a recently retired consultant psychiatrist, I believe that it is helpful for people to have a basic understanding of common mental health disorders. This not only helps sufferers and their carers, but it may also reduce the stigma that is often associated with mental illness.

In addition there are some useful practical skills that can be learned and applied to help people in their daily lives. For example, learning breathing techniques and time management can help reduce anxiety levels, enabling people to cope with stress better from day to day.

Likewise, finding out how to support a relative with depression can be a necessary skill. Knowing when to seek medical help can be important. Learning how to ask questions sensitively when there is evidence of severe depression can be vital. Understanding the underlying basis of addiction and how to recognise early signs of drug abuse can be extremely important. We all need to know how to relate to the person suffering from mental illness with greater care and compassion.

I will cover these and many other aspects in a series of four talks to be held in Clonard Monastery over the next four weeks. The topics are Understanding and Coping with Mental Illness (Tuesday February 16); Understanding and coping with Addictions (February 23); What is Depression and what Treatments are Available? (March 1) and Anxiety and Stress Management (March 8).

Meetings are 7.30pm-9.30pm each evening with a tea interval; entrance is free, and all are welcome.

After the interval each evening there will be an optional brief reflection on the spiritual issues associated with these mental-health issues, when I will examine the crucial role faith can play in helping us cope with the emotional pain and struggles that we encounter.

:: Dr Stephen Critchlow is a former consultant psychiatrist. Copies of his forthcoming book Mindful of the Light – Practical Help and Spiritual Hope for Mental Health will be available at the Clonard talks.