There’s a common conception or belief that you have to feel 100% ready to change before you can take action; but, having second thoughts about yourself and being on the fence isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’re normal. Mental health is a subject that has always been disregarded in many spheres of life, yet it is what runs our day to day lives. The many happenings in our lives either improves our mental health or affects it; from economic challenges, violence, crime, frustrations regarding family relations and other life struggles. People have adopted unhealthy behaviors such dependent on prescribed medication, some of the time because they aren’t convinced they need it. Or, they might engage in drugs and substance abuse and alcoholism as a defense mechanism. These are struggles that families living with mentally disturbed people have to tolerate.
William Miller, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Mexico says, “What you probably should not do is become the champion for change and tell the person what’s wrong with them and what they should do, because the normal response to that is for the person to voice the other side of their ambivalence.” Miller points out that it’s important to ask people what they think they should do and why they would want to do that and how they would go about doing it so that they’re actually voicing their own motivations for change. Trying to help people voice their own positive motivations for change is much more powerful than then trying to persuade people.
“What you probably should not do is become the champion for change and tell the person what’s wrong with them and what they should do, because the normal response to that is for the person to voice the other side of their ambivalence.” Dr. William Miller
Organizations have integrated psycho-social support into their projects in order to address mental health challenges. It is essential that that government and non- governmental organizations continue to monitor psycho-social needs, assess and put interventions in place by engaging psychologists into their projects. Counseling services should also be available to the public and also the healthcare providers.
For information on mental health, check here
Youth Alive Liberia works with health facilities through which we refer cases. For mental health assistance and referrals, visit Duport Road Health Facility and JFK Hospital among others.