Tara Hospital walks for mental health
SANDHURST – Tara Hospital helps to raise awareness on the importance mental health with a fun walk through the streets of Sandton.
In the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month, Tara – The H. Moross Hospital in Sandhurst hosted its annual fun walk on 11 October to raise help raise awareness and educate the public on mental health.
The 6.7km walk began at the hospital and took a route through Hurlingham and Craighall before returning.
Together with the Gauteng Department of Health, the hospital aims to shine a light on the importance of having good mental health. “The event is aimed at making information and awareness of mental health more accessible and inclusive,” said communications officer for the hospital, Vuledzani Munzhelele.
“Raising awareness is something that you as citizens can do to make sure that we manage this huge problem of mental health,” said CEO of the hospital Dr Florence Otieno. According to Otieno, mental health does not discriminate, it can affect anyone. “There is no health without mental health,” she said.
The theme for the walk, #YouMatter, was aligned with the World Health Organisation’s theme of Suicide Prevention. An estimated 400 million people worldwide suffer from mental, neurological disorders or psychosocial problems.
As in physical disorders, mental and brain disorders vary in severity. According to the Department of Health, there are those that are:
- Transient (like an acute stress disorder)
- Periodic (like bipolar disorder, characterised by periods of exaggerated elation followed by periods of depression)
- Long-lasting and progressive (like Alzheimer’s disease).
“The objective [is] not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to,” Munzhelele added.
Details: Tara – The H. Moross Hospital 011 535 3000.
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