MHM Magazine

Issue 3 | 2021 | MENTALHEALTHMATTERS | 5 MHM EDITORS Zane Wilson Founder SADAG Dr Frans Korb ADVISORY BOARD Neil Amoore, Psychologist, Johannesburg Dr Lori Eddy, Psychologist, Johannesburg Prof Crick Lund, Psychiatrist, Cape Town Dr Rykie Liebenberg, Psychiatrist, Johannesburg Dr Colinda Linde, Psychologist, Johannesburg Zamo Mbele, Psychologist, Johannesburg Nkini Phasha, SADAG Director, Johannesburg David Rosenstein, Psychologist, Cape Town Prof Dan Stein, Psychiatrist, Cape Town Dr Sheldon Zilesnick, Psychiatrist, Johannesburg COPY EDITOR Marion Scher EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Wesley Pereira SADAG Cassey Chambers SADAG CONTACT DETAILS www.sadag.org Tel: 0800 21 22 23 Tel: 011 234 4837 Email: zane@sadag.org MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS is published by In House Publications, P.O. Box 412748, Craighall, 2024. Johannesburg, South Africa Cell: 082 604 5038 Email: inhouse@iafrica.com Website: www.ihpublishing.co.za ISSN: 2313-8009 PUBLISHER In House Publications PRODUCTION Andrew Thomas ADVERTISING Andrew Thomas - 082 604 5038 REPRODUCTION Rachel du Plessis rachel@prycision.com Prycision prycision.com DISTRIBUTION 2 500 GP’s 450 Psychiatrists MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS The views expressed in individual articles are the personal views of the Authors and are not necessarily shared by the Editors, the Advertisers or the Publisher. No articles may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the Publisher. CONTENTS VOLUME 8 � ISSUE 3 � 2021 EDITORIAL Reflections on Life Esidimeni and South Africa’s Mental Health crisis C Chambers 01 GUEST EDITORIAL “A Quiet Implosion” is happening to our healthcare workers C Brown 06 Drug Awareness Month Narcotics Anonymous 11 Teen suicide and suicide safety plans A Scher 16 How to minimise stress and anxiety in children during COVID-19 C Cowen 20 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and COVID-19 S Friedland 24 Management of bipolar disorder and how psychoeducation can help G Grundling 28 Understanding Narcissistic Abuse L Levin 32 Memory lapses, MCI and cognitive enhancers in the elderly FCV Potocnik 35 Child and adolescent protection during the third wave of Covid-19 K Laxton 41 Polyvagal Theory and its relevance to COVID-19 L Robinson 44 LIVING WITH... Death of a brother F Korb 47 MHM ENTAL EALTH ATTERS NA offers free support to addicts NarcoticsAnonymous isa free,non-profit fellowshipofpeople forwhomdrugshavebecomeamajorproblem.NA’sprogram isopen toaddictsofall ages,nationalities,cultures,creed,gender identity,and religions.Theonly requirement formembership isadesire to stopusing. Membersmeet regularlyatNAmeetings,where they introduce themselvesasaddictsand trynot to focuson specificdrugs,but ratheron the messageof recoveryandhow to stayclean.NAmeetingsallhave the sameprimarypurpose: tocarry themessageof recovery toanyaddict that mayneed it.Thereareno initiation fees,nopledges to sign,nopromises tomake toanyone. Meetingsvary in length, formatand focusareas,andmay sometimesbeaimedat specific interestgroups.Meetingscanbeeitherclosed (onlymemberspermitted)oropen (familyand friendsarewelcome toattendand listenonly).NAmeetingsareoftenheld inaccessible,public facilities likechurchhalls, libraries,andcommunitycentres:NA isnotaffiliated to theseentities.Allmeetingsare runby trusted servants(recovering addicts)whovolunteer their time for service, theorganisationdoesnotacceptoutsidedonations, isnotaffiliated toanypolitical, lawenforcement, religious,or socialagencies,and isnotaccountable toanyoutsideentities. Pleasenote thatNarcoticsAnonymousdoesnotconduct interventionsordrug tests; reportonattendance,clean timeorbehaviour;anddoesnot employprofessionals toprovide therapy,counselling,or residential facilities toaddicts,or theparents, familyor friendsofaddicts. Ifyoubelieveyoumayhaveadrugproblem,we recommendyougo toameetingnearyou.There isnocost toattendandnobooking required. Ifyouneedhelp findingameetingormore information,give thehelplineacall (0839006962)orvisitourwebsite forour regionalemailhelplines: http://na.org.za/helpline/ 11 28 35 44 41 20 24 16 32