Mental Health Month Highlights: let's make “mental health care for all” a reality
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 - from the World Health Organisation - is ‘Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality’. How do we, a responsible medical service provider, empower people to look after their own mental health and provide support to those in need? Let's take a look at our colleagues' great initiatives this year:
“We Care About Mental Health Hospital Kuala Lumpur” Virtual Awareness Campaign
World Mental Health Awareness Day is observed on the 10th of October every year. In conjunction with this, Luye Pharma Malaysia team has partnered with MHPSS to organize a 2-day virtual awareness event "We Care For Mental Health HKL" to raise awareness about the importance of mental health among the healthcare workers in HKL. This is also the launch of HKL Mental Health and Psychosocial Services Unit (MHPSS) to introduce its services. The mission of MHPSS is to provide psychological support to the frontliners who have been fighting the pandemic close to 2 years now. This event was officiated by the Hospital Director, Dr Rohana Johan, followed by a lecture by Dr Chan Yee Fai, a Stretching and Meditation session by Dr Noraini Darus, and ended with the announcement of the "Color For Mental Health" coloring contest for Day 1.
In her speech, Dr Rohana expressed her appreciation to the frontliners and acknowledged that healthcare workers have been suffering from burn-out, psychological stress, heighten anxiety, depression prioritizing the care for covid-19 patients over themselves. She highlighted that it is ok not to be ok. She encouraged those who are suffering to step out from the fear of stigmatization and seek help. Dr Chan Yee Fai, Psychiatrist delivered a lecture on “Depression: A Year’s Outlook into Covid-19 Pandemic. Dr Chan recapped the Covid-19 situation in the country and introduced the signs and symptoms of depression. He highlighted that local data, demonstrated that essential workers are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder (42% vs 30% non-essential workers), starting or increasing substances use (25% vs 11%), and suicidal thoughts (22% vs 8%) during the pandemic.
Day 2 started with the forum titled “Doctor, Am I Depressed” led by Dr Gayathri Samarasam, Psychiatrist. She talked about the definition of depression, risk factors associated with depression, diagnostic criteria, treatment goals as well as pharmacotherapy, and non-pharmacotherapy available. She mentioned a publication that detailed all the factors leading to depressions for the pandemic healthcare works. Dr Hafiz took over the session to launch and introduce the services, supports made available by MHPSS for the HKL colleagues. The session ended with Dr Riana announcing the top 5 winners of the “Color for Mental Health’ contest.
More than 160 participants attended the 2 days session. They were not only the participants from among the HKL staff but also the participants from other hospitals in the country. The whole proceeding was moderated by Nick Chew, Associate Sales Manager, Luye Pharma Malaysia. Thanks to the Luye Malaysia Team for taking this opportunity and the commitment to execute this event flawlessly. It is a meaningful collaboration with HKL to establish Luye Pharma as a key player in the mental health field.
Mental Health Month Speaker Series
Psychiatrists from across our hospital network in China and Australia delivered a series of specialised mental health webinars on a weekly basis to raise public awareness of mental health issues.
Aurora Healthcare Australia’s webinar topics varied greatly from eating disorders and addiction to PTSD; from borderline personality disorder to perinatal disorders. These energizing conversations connected us with larger audience by showcasing the efforts and progress we made in mental health treatment. Similarly, Mindfront Academy launched its China-Australia Dialogue Series Live Broadcast Series to discuss mental health issues such as DBT and PPD.
Consumer and staff engagement: Aurora Lennon Wall
As part of our Aurora Healthcare brand launch in Australia, the inaugural ‘Aurora Lennon Wall’ was released to coincide with the World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Month in Australia. Our Aurora Lennon Wall connected with October’s mental health calendar, with art therapy a significant part of our mental health therapies across our hospitals. We adapted this concept from the Lennon Wall in Prague, Czech Republic (est. 1980s) which had John Lennon-inspired graffiti, lyrics from Beatles’ songs, and designs relating to local and global causes and today symbolises love and peace, through freedom of speech and creative expression.
The Lennon wall is a consumer and staff engagement initiative across our hospitals. Throughout September, our hospitals opened up art submissions to all patients to create an art piece or phrasing, with the theme, ‘I’m Feeling’. Feedback from staff and patients has been overwhelmingly positive and finally completed a group-wide project. All submissions are showcased in our own Aurora Lennon Wall wallpaper and will be installed across our hospitals as a permanent fixture and like the Prague wall our patients, visitors and staff can add their thoughts, feelings or give a shout out, with adhesive stick-ons supplied, ongoing.
Connecting mental health professionals’ hearts
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Mindfront Academy conducted a nationwide survey among mental health professionals. The questions included: What was the most fulfilling thing you did in the past year? What tool, training, or magic do you want to have to empower yourself? What should be done to make “mental health care for all” a reality? The interviewees gave fun or touching answers, showing their sincerity and kindness as medical workers.
Embracing e-commerce and creating social media buzz
With the full support of JD Health, Mindfront Health successfully opened its flagship store within just one week. The e-shop store was established to provide multi-dimensional psychological evaluation and explanation, one-to-one evidence-based psychological consultation, psychological intervention and other consultation related projects. By embracing e-commerce, we offer more attractive and accessible services with higher efficiency.
Mindfront Health’s flagship store on JD Health
In Australia, publicity on our Aurora social media channels and media throughout October also profiled our mental health expertise along with stats and evidence around art therapy; while in China, Mindfront Health kept attracting a young, engaged audience.
World Mental Health Day theme posters designed by Luye Medical’s various brands
Yantai Huayi Rehabilitation Hospital ranked amongst “China's Top 50 Private Rehabilitation Service Providers"
During the closing ceremony of the 2021·CNMIA Rehabilitation Conference held in Shanghai on 16th Oct, Yantai Huayi Rehabilitation Hospital (High-tech Zone Rehabilitation Branch, Yuhuangding Hospital) was awarded “Pioneer of Private Rehabilitation Hospitals” and was recognised as one of China’s top 50 private rehabilitation service providers in an industry report.
Mr. Jiang (sixth right) at the award ceremony of “Pioneers of Private Rehabilitation Hospitals”
Iris Shi, Vice President of Operations, Luye Medical China and Director of Yantai Campus (middle) and Jiang Pingyin, Vice Principal of Yantai Huayi Rehabilitation Hospital (High-tech Zone Rehabilitation Branch, Yuhuangding Hospital) (right) attended the ceremony
The report, released by the well-known “Big Four” accounting firm, was the first of its kind in China to name the top rehabilitation institutions. After a year of examination and inspection in terms, the finalists stoodout for their high quality medical services, corporate achievements, business results, development potential and social responsibility.
Iris Shi, Vice President of Operations, Luye Medical China and Director of Yantai Campus and Jiang Pingyin, Vice Principal of Yantai Huayi Rehabilitation Hospital (High-tech Zone Rehabilitation Branch, Yuhuangding Hospital) were delighted to attend the ceremony to receive the award and mingle with industry peers. In the future, the hospital will continue to actively participate in such high-standard industry academic conferences, make full use of its technology and information resource to carry out publicity and education of rehabilitation.
Medical rehabilitation is an important social service that affects people’s livelihood. With increasing importance placed on medical rehabilitation, China’s medical rehabilitation service capabilities continue to strengthen in recent years. While 2021 is witnessing the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan, service providers are actively planning to capture the huge potential in rehabilitation market under a series of encouragement policies,
