Mended Hearts and Stroke Group tackles mental health during the coronavirus pandemic

The Mended Hearts and Stroke Group from the Heart and Stroke Foundation invites the public to a Zoom webinar on 22 August at 10am to discuss ways to handle mental health, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of Hearts and Strike Foundation said mental health is an often neglected aspect of overall health. “When an individual is described to be in good health, we take for granted that this refers to physical health and the absence of disease or medical conditions,” she said. “In the webinar series that the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa has embarked on, focusing on mental health is one of the highlights as the Foundation would like to bring to the attention of the public the importance of the balance between physical health and mental well-being.”

According to Prof. Naidoo, globally since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase in the prevalence of common mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. “The level of uncertainty, separation from close family members, friends and colleagues, and the economic down-turn are contributing factors to the increasing burden in South Africa and globally.”

Naidoo said the combination of having cardiovascular disease, low levels of mental well-being and facing the threat of becoming Covid-19 positive is overwhelming. “Awareness about the signs and symptoms of common mental disorders is important as it guides individuals on when to seek help from a mental health care practitioner,” she concluded.

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