Mental health specialists Dr. Hoda Amin and Dr. Shama Fahim share resources, treatments, and other effective ways to prevent and combat mental health struggles.
Faheem is a board-certified adult and child psychiatrist and chief medical officer of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN).
She shared that mental illness is the most common health problem in the United States, with 50% of the general population expected to experience and be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime.
“One in five Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year,” she said. “One in five of her children now or will have a serious debilitating mental illness, and one in 25 of her children suffers from a serious condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression. I have a mental illness.”
There is no single cause of mental illness, Faheem said, but there are individual factors that collectively contribute to or exacerbate mental illness. These factors include a person’s biological and genetic make-up, human behavior and thinking, trauma, abuse, and even exposure to chronic disease.
“There is a biopsychosocial model in which biological genes and genetic predispositions are along with psychological components such as thoughts, emotions and behaviors that affect health,” she said.
She also used drugs, alcohol, andLoneliness, isolation, and self-esteem” can exacerbate mental illness.
Individuals can combat mental health disorders in several different ways, and Fahim shared the importance of taking care of yourself. This includes maintaining a healthy diet, getting an adequate amount of sleep each night, and incorporating relaxation activities such as meditation and breathing exercises into your daily routine.
She said try and incorporate self-care practices that can help you overcome your mental health struggles.
The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network provides services related to mental health, substance use, emotional disorders, and other areas related to the treatment of mental health conditions.
For Wayne County residents seeking help, call the DWIHN Access Line at 1-800-241-4949. This is available 24/7. Faheem also suggested visiting her website at DWIHN, dwihn.org, for additional resources and online screening tools. This tool is a covert survey that asks questions to identify specific mental health concerns and provides resources based on the results.
Although the debate around mental health has improved in recent years, Fahim said mental health disorders are on the rise in Wayne County.
“From 2020 to 2021, the severe mental illness population increased, serving about 41,000 people in 2020 and 44,000 people in 2021,” she said.
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Photo: DWIHN Facebook
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. This is an important thing we should keep in mind. – Dr. Shama Faheem, Psychiatrist, Chief Medical Officer of DWIHN
Amin has a master’s degree in social work and a doctorate in counseling. She runs her own practice in Dearborn and has worked in the mental health field for over 37 years.
She told Arab American News that her mental health problems have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She said it increases individual uncertainty and leads to the development of phobias.
She shared some ways to tackle mental health struggles, including educating yourself if possible, developing some understanding of the issues you face, and seeking professional help. .
“It’s very important to talk to a professional, not your next of kin, because just because a professional loves you doesn’t mean they’re going to give you the right treatment or the right approach,” she said. Told.
Seeking professional help is not only important for proper guidance, but it also gives the individual an unbiased perspective and an opportunity to be heard.
“Someone I call a valuable friend, someone who is neutral, someone who will listen to you and help you, someone who puts things into perspective, learns how to deal with problems you never learned. There’s nothing wrong with looking for someone to help you identify before,” Amin said.
“Expensive Friend” is Amin’s reference to professional help. Mental Health Professional, Certified Therapist and Counselor.
She also shared that identifying your own triggers in terms of what makes you feel anxious or depressed is a beneficial step in getting your mental state under control.
Fahim and Amin shared the importance of seeking professional help, especially when personal approaches like self-care aren’t working.
“Ask for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. This is an important thing for us to keep in mind,” Fahim said.
Visit https://dwihn.org to see the services and resources DWIHN provides for those struggling with mental health.
