Resilience- defining the undefined

World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through. ‘mental health is a universal human right’- is the theme of this year.

Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.

Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which cause distress and problems getting through the day. Many children occasionally experience fears and worries or display disruptive behaviors. If symptoms are serious and persistent and interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with a mental disorder.

According to the World Health Organization, half of all mental health issues begin before the age of 14, however, the majority of incidents go unnoticed and untreated. Adolescents and young adults are one of the groups that frequently encounter challenges and also struggle to receive mental health care. If ignored, these mental health issues affect their day-to-day activities, careers and also in future while growing up.

Common Mental Health Illnesses include:

Depression
Anxiety/Phobias
Eating Disorders
Stress
Severe Mental Health Illnesses Include:
Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder (Manic depression)
Clinical depression
Suicidal tendency
Personality disorder

Statistics show that 1 in every 5 individuals suffers from some form of mental health illness symptoms. 50% of mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% of mental health conditions develop by age 24. Mental illness can be triggered by multiple factors. Complex interactions between mind, body and environment result in psychological disorders. Some of the factors are long term acute stress, biological factors, drug abuse and overdose, cognitive behaviour like constant negative thoughts, low energy, etc, social problems like financial problems, breakdowns, isolation, etc.

Mental health in India is still a fairly new topic and the mental health myths and taboos attached to this subject are prevalent to this date. According to the National Health program by the Ministry of health and family welfare, 6% of Kerala’s population has mental disorders. 1 in a 5 has some emotional and behavioural problems. Close to 60 to 70 million people in the country suffer from common and severe mental disorders. India is the world’s su***de capital with over 2.6 lakh cases of su***de in a year. WHO statistics say the average su***de rate in India is 10.9 for every lakh people.

“Mental health affects every aspect of your life. It’s not just this neat little issue you can put into a box.” — Shannon Purser

October 6 marks World Cerebral Palsy Day. This is the day people around the world come together to celebrate and support those living with cerebral palsy, embrace diversity and help create a more accessible future for everyone.

The theme for the day is -Millions Of Reasons – as cerebral palsy affects more than 17 million people worldwide, there are millions of reasons to support the day and make your voice heard on
October 6.

Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood impairment affecting approximately 3/1000 live births in India. It is a neuro developmental disorder which means a condition resulting from interference to the development of the brain during early months of pregnancy, during birth or soon afterbirth or early childhood due to impaired blood supply, decreased oxygen, glucose or calcium supply, infections, trauma & preterm birth. An extremely small % of cases are due to genetic causes as also stress [both physical and mental]. Research has proved that most cases are due to multiple causes operating together to bring about a cascade of events that result in brain cell death during rapid & vulnerable phase of development from 5th month of pregnancy to the first two years of life.

“People with cerebral palsy are not disabled, they are differently-abled.”

28 States 7 Union Territories 1652 Total Languages 6 Major Religions 100s of Festivals & 1 Country! Proud to be an Indian! Happy Independence Day!🇮🇳

National Doctor's Day is celebrated on July 1st every year in India to recognise the contributions of doctors and medical professionals towards society. It also aims to create awareness about the importance of doctors, their selfless service, and the valuable role they play in improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

This year's theme for National Doctor's Day is “Celebrating Resilience and Healing Hands". Through this year's theme, we wish to celebrate the medical professionals that worked hard through the difficult times faced due to the pandemic. We use this day to recognise the efforts of medical professionals and all their contributions.

Happy Doctor's Day

You are a warrior in the fight against disease. Thank you for your dedication and courage.

World Environment Day is observed on June 5. The day aims to remind us all of our shared responsibility to protect and nurture the environment. Together, we can make a difference by adopting sustainable habits, conserving resources, and promoting eco-friendly practices. Whether it's planting trees, reducing waste, or supporting renewable energy, every small step counts.

World Environment Day 2023 is focusing on the urgent mission of tackling plastic pollution through the powerful campaign called . The theme is “Solutions to plastic pollution”.

World Environment Day, hosted under the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), marks a day to raise awareness and action about the environmental catastrophes of the modern world. A major initiative of this day is to encourage people to live sustainable lifestyles.

World Environment Day has a specific host country. For 2023, the host is the West African country of Côte d’Ivoire, in partnership with the Netherlands.

At a time when extreme temperatures, abnormal storms and cyclones, and natural calamities remind us every day about the irreparable damage to mother Earth, World Environment Day, provides a hope and an opportunity to all of us to do our bits for the protection of the environment and earth's well being.

One Earth, One Chance – Let’s Save It!

World Hemophilia Day

April 17th is observed as World Hemophilia Day annually, commemorating the birthday of Frank Schnabel, who founded the World Federation of Hemophilia. This occasion serves as a platform to increase awareness and provide education about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

Hemophilia is a rare disease characterized by the inability of the blood to clot properly due to a deficiency in specific clotting factors, resulting in prolonged bleeding that can be life-threatening in certain cases.

World Federation of Hemophilia. The World Federation encourages people worldwide to illuminate in red as a symbol of solidarity with those affected by haemophilia.

The theme for World Hemophilia Day in 2023 is "Access for All: Partnership. Policy. Progress. Engaging Government, Integrating Inherited Bleeding Disorders into National Policy." The day aims to raise awareness among individuals and caregivers about haemophilia and other blood-related disorders.
When individual experiences bleeding from an internal or external wound, the body responds by gathering blood cells to form a clot in order to stop further bleeding. Clotting is facilitated by the interaction of blood proteins with platelet-like cells. However, in cases where a clotting factor is missing, haemophilia can develop. Hemophilia can be either congenital, meaning it is present from birth, or acquired, where it develops later in life.

As per the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), indications and signs of hemophilia may include-

Bleeding from the mouth and gums

Frequent nose bleeds

- Bleeding into the joints

- Bleeding after a circumcision

- Bloody stool

- Blood in urine

- Bleeding after vaccinations or other injections

The main treatment for hemophilia is called replacement therapy.

World TB Day is celebrated every year on March 24. The theme of World TB Day 2023 is– Yes! We can end TB! Tuberculosis or TB is a much-dreaded bacterial disease affecting lungs which if not treated early can lead to fatal complications. TB spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While most people do not have any symptoms of TB when infected and do not require treatment, when they do emerge, the range of symptoms include cough, weight loss, night sweats and fever. Tuberculosis has been a growing concern especially in India as the country has 28% of all the TB patients in the world. H3N2 influenza and Covid may spike the number of these patients even further in the coming days, as per experts.

TB not only just affects lungs but can also cause joint damage, liver and kidney issues, and even bone infections. The best way to deal with it is to spot it early and start the treatment as the disease is very much treatable.

Signs of TB-

1.Continuous cough that lasts for more than 2 weeks,
2.Coughing up blood or sputum,
3.Weakness,
4.Fatigue,
5.Weight loss,
6.Poor appetite,
7.fever,
8.poor growth in children,
9.night sweats,
10.chest pain.

James Martin, a Starbucks barista and part-time actor with Down syndrome, made history on March 12, 2023, when he became the first person with Down syndrome to win an Oscar. Martin bagged the honor for his role in a live-action short film called "An Irish Goodbye".

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) , 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

What is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects people of all races, backgrounds and ethnicity. It happens when there is an extra copy of the 21st chromosome, which leads to physical and intellectual disabilities. People with Down syndrome generally have distinct facial features and have several health complications such as heart defects, hearing and vision problems, and thyroid conditions.

World Down Syndrome Day is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity among people irrespective of their condition. It's an occasion to raise awareness about the people with Down Syndrome face in their daily lives. It is a reminder that people with Down syndrome have the right to education, employment, healthcare, and social inclusion, and that they can make valuable contributions to society.

Symptoms-
1.Flattened face, 2.Small head
3.Short neck,
4.Protruding tongue,
5.Upward slanting eye lids, (palpebral fissures)
6.Unusually shaped or small ears
Poor muscle tone,
7.Broad, short hands with a single crease in the palm,
8.Relatively short fingers and small hands and feet,
9.Excessive flexibility,
10.Tiny white spots on the colored part (iris) of the eye called Brushfield's spots,
11.Short height.

Most children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Language is delayed, and both short and long-term memory is affected.

Who treats down syndrome?
occupational therapist,speech therapist,paediatrician,
physiotherapist,medical geneticist.

National Immunisation or Vaccination Day

Every year, the Government of India celebrates 16 March as the National immunisation or Vaccination Day to honor and appreciate the front line health workers for their contribution in the vaccination of all the children of the country. The day is recognized to create awareness among people about the importance of vaccination in the health of human beings.

Vaccines are critically useful against several deadly diseases like measles, chicken pox, rubella, polio, and many more. We have certainly realized the importance of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were waiting for a miracle vaccine to get rid of the deadly coronavirus infection.

The first dose of the oral polio vaccine was administered on March 16 in India in 1995. Thus, national immunisation day or Vaccination Day celebrates the start of the Pulse Polio Programme of the government which helped eradicate polio from the country.

As a primary part of the Pulse Polio Programme, two drops of oral polio vaccine were given to children between the ages of 0 and 5. It was popularised through a nationwide campaign called ‘Do Boond Zindagi Ke’ and it gained momentum in 2014. The World Health Organisation (WHO) later announced that India had become a polio-free nation.

National Vaccination Day highlights the importance of vaccination in to fight against life-threatening diseases and it aims to educate people about how the role of vaccination cannot be overlooked.
Vaccination Day also provides an opportunity to initiate the talk of why it is important for us to get our family and ourselves vaccinated against diseases and encourage everyone to stay immunized.

World kidney Day

World Kidney Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on the 2nd Thursday in March every year since 2006, intending to bring together the patients suffering from kidney diseases and promote awareness of “amazing kidneys” by educating the people about their role in maintaining health. This year 2023, World Kidney Day is observed on Thursday, 9 March.

1 in 10 people worldwide suffers from some degree of chronic kidney disease, as it can develop at any age, and various risk factors can accelerate it.

Genetically, people of South Asian geographic regions, i.e., people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, have a higher risk of contracting chronic kidney disease, especially with increased rates of diabetes and hypertension.

World Kidney Day 2023 theme is "Kidney Health for All - Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable", a call to patients, governments, world leaders, and the concerned stakeholders those are in positions of power with an intention to work collaboratively to accelerate awareness about the challenges faced by patients suffering with chronic kidney disease.

Some chronic kidney disease preventive tips-

1)Keep fit and avoid a sedentary lifestyle
2)Have a healthy balanced diet
Check and manage the blood sugar levels
3) Check and maintain the blood pressure levels
4)Drink appropriate fluid (8 cups, nearly 2 litres water per day)
5) Abstinence from to***co consumption
6)Avoid regular intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS)

Nephrologists are medical doctors who specialize in the care of kidneys. nephrologist can examine you and give some blood and urine tests, make a diagnosis and treat your condition with medication or a procedure.

Signs of Kidney Disease-
1.You're more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating.
2.You're having trouble sleeping.
3.You have dry and itchy skin.
4.You feel the need to urinate more often.
5.You see blood in your urine.
6.Your urine is foamy.
7.You're experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes.
8.Your ankles and feet are swollen.
9.You have a poor appetite.
10.Your muscles are cramping.

According to the World Health Organization, Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) was established in 1993. World Cancer Day was made official at the first World Summit Against Cancer in 2000.

This year’s theme marks the second year of the campaign “close the care gap” which is about understanding the inequities in cancer care and taking actions to make the necessary progress to address them.

situation in india-

India shares a high cancer burden. The reported cancer incidence in India is estimated to be about 19-20 lakh.Deaths caused by cancer have risen in the past three decades.According to GLOBOCAN 2018 survey, the top eight cancers that affect India are breast, lung, oral, cervical, and gastric,Ovarian cancer,Prostate cancer,Blood cancer.

Cancer and mental health issues:

A cancer diagnosis can affect the emotional health of patients, families, and caregivers. Common feelings during this life-changing experience include anxiety, distress, and depression. Roles at home, school, and work can be affected. It's important to recognize these changes and get help when needed. Anxiety means feeling uncomfortable, worried, or scared about a real or possible situation. It's important to recognize anxiety and take steps to manage it or prevent it from getting worse. Feelings of depression are common in cancer patients, families, and caregivers. Learn how to spot depression and if there is reason to be concerned.
Distress is an unpleasant emotion, feeling, thought, condition, or behavior. Being distressed can affect the way you think, feel, or act, and can make it hard to cope with the effects of having cancer.

All this mental health issues are treatable, so consulting with Mental Health Professionals are suggestive.

Occupational therapy and cancer treatment-

Occupational therapy helps patients who have a change in mental or physical function regain skills for everyday activities, whether that’s high-level tasks or basic functions. For example, it can help patients with basic tasks like getting dressed on their own or high-level ones like caring for their children and come up with creative ideas to help patients and offer support.

Occupational therapy has a lot to offer for cancer patients. It's help patients overcome chemotherapy- and radiation-related fatigue, as well as recover after surgery. Sometimes cancer patients have mental challenges, and occupational therapy can help keep the patient engaged. Some patients feel like they’ve lost their lives, but occupational therapists can provide support for them by finding ways to keep them engaged mentally and physically.

Speech therapy and cancer-

Speech-language pathology occurs in the presence of head and neck tumors,Due to these tumors location, the proposed treatments of surgery, chemoradiotherapy, or combination, will result in temporary or permanent speech disorders. The treatment options for head and neck cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemoradiotherapy.The speech therapist must identify and intervene in all stages of the radiotherapy process to minimize the sequelae related to swallowing and phonation that can severely impact life quality during treatment.

In order to get where you want to go, you first have to leave where you are. We are willing to be open to change today. To live in this world successfully, we need to become flexible, like the limbs of a tree, and learn to bend in the wind, all the while keeping a firm footing on the ground.

Resilience is Hiring.....