I'm Not Okay

20/06/2023

Bullying is always a hard thing to experience...both for the child but also for rhe parent of the child. We want to make sure our children are safe and being heard...but also its the VERY fine line of letting our kids learn to resolve conflict on their own.

Prevention is at the heart of resolving bullying instead of waiting to respond once a more a more violent episode occurs or once many incidents escalate in a tragedy.

What we do know is that victims of bullying can experience negative impacts across apl domains of their lives. It infringes upon their mental, social, physical, social and academic functioning.

Start by keeping an open dialogue with your kids and get your child help and prevent future bullying.

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Bullying and a Dad 😡 My latest blog drop at www.ArabBabaThatsMe.com (direct link in bio) hits close to home. Writing this hurt because of what happened to my daughter last week as well as how I reacted. More importantly how she reacted. This parenting and adulting thing isn’t easy. Throw bullying or being a bully into the mix and the frustration grows. You can read about how defensive I was (how any parent is), what happened, the very low tolerance level for it and the learning from it. I’d like to hear your thoughts on how you have responded to being bullied, being a bully yourself and the affect on your kids. Either way it’s never ok but this is from a very real situation that happened.

06/06/2023

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Feeling anxious? We're just a text away! Connect with our Maybelline WhatsApp Mental Health Helpline on 087 163 2030 for instant support, compassionate listening, and practical strategies to help you navigate through Anxiety. The chatline is available daily between 8 am-5pm Your peace of mind is our priority.

03/06/2023

The Dubai Health Authority, in collaboration with their partners, continues free and virtual webinars on Children's Mental Health Matters.

Each webinar will cover a wide range of topics, useful tools, and helpful insights as we as a society take steps towards destimatising the conversation around mental health and get people to share their concerns and difficulties.

Together, let's be part of the solution!

03/06/2023

The Dubai Health Authority, in collaboration with their partners, continues free and virtual webinars on Children's Mental Health Matters.

Each webinar will cover a wide range of topics, useful tools, and helpful insights as we as a society take steps towards destimatising the conversation around mental health and get people to share their concerns and difficulties.

Together, let's be part of the solution!

Join us as we discuss common youth diagnoses, strategies, and develop skills that can create positive change within families.

30/05/2023

Support Groups encourage self-acceptance and empower individuals to embrace their strengths. By forging connections with others who understand your challenges, you'll find solace, encouragement, and inspiration. Together, we are breaking the stigma surrounding Bipolar Disorder, fostering awareness, and promoting a more inclusive society.

Join our Support GroupS for Bipolar Disorder and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, compassion, and growth. Let us empower you to live a life full of hope, resilience, and meaningful connections. You are not alone—find strength in our community.

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27/05/2023

To help break the stigma and misinformation surrounding , read more about myths vs facts to help dispel stereotypes and embrace more compassion for people living with or impacted by Bipolar Disorder. By taking the time to educate ourselves and others, we can create a more inclusive and understanding society.

To find out more visit sadag.org
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27/05/2023

Bipolar Awareness Day is an annual event to raise awareness and understanding of Bipolar Disorder. On this day, people around the world work together to spread knowledge and reduce the stigma associated with this Mental Health condition. Today, we come together to raise our voices and spread understanding on Bipolar Awareness Day. Let's foster empathy, support, and empowerment for all those on this journey! ❤️ Please make sure to visit our website via the lin in the bio to learn more.

26/05/2023

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Less than 6% of people with eating disorders are underweight. Let that sink in for a moment.

That number tells us that the vast majority of people living with these serious, life-threatening illnesses are in larger or "normal"-sized bodies. It also tells us that if you try to judge someone's eating disorder status based on what they look like, you'll miss nearly everyone who is struggling.

Breaking down this kind of myth is a vital first step toward getting everyone the care they need. Head to the link in bio for an in-depth look at what body size has to do with eating disorders (hint: not a lot), how pervasive myths harm people who don't fit the eating disorder stereotype, and what to do if you or a loved one need help. 🔗

19/04/2023

St Lukes Home of Healing is an incredible haven and home for the severely mentally and physically disabled.

Nestled in the heart of the lush sugar cane fields of the North Coast of South Africa, this beautiful sanctuary needs our help.

Please keep them in your hearts 🥰

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Please join our 128 Club by donating directly to our food account details listed or use Zapper to donate into our home account. Thank you and God bless those that have already helped us. Every cent goes along way in helping our residents 🌟

07/04/2023

There is no real health without mental health.

The mind and body are inextricably tied together.

On World Health Day, we recognise that we must make sure people have access to all necessary health support and care, regardless of financial standing or background.

I'M NOT OKAY will continue to bring awareness for the need for Holistic Health Support, destigmatize mental illness, and we commit to do our best to advocate for what we see as a Universal Right.

01/04/2023

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The first step to breaking the stigma around is learning more about what it is. Creating awareness is key for ! Share this info to help educate others.

25/03/2023

Great article on grappling with eating disorders during Ramadan!
Thank you Dr Rania Awaad for bringing awareness to mental illness in a way that helps end the stigma and shame around the topic and support those struggling with love and understanding.

'For many, Ramadan is one of the most spiritual and highly anticipated times of the year, but it can also be a very challenging time for Muslims grappling with an eating disorder. Ramadan can be used as both a way to enable and discourage further negative mental health-related behavior by people who struggle with these disorders.

Despite the rich Islamic heritage of mental health contributions, discussions on mental illnesses today continue to be considered taboo for many Muslims. As such, when people decide not to fast due to an illness, they can become further stigmatized. For individuals with more acute eating disorders, fasting can trigger a relapse. The challenge for many is that they may try to hide their eating disorder behind the veil of fasting, which can leave a person feeling lonely and even further displaced from their faith.

An individual who is unable to fast as a result of either an acute or chronic illness should not feel guilt or as if they are deprived of reward. Scholars have commented that one who has the intent to fast but is unable to do so will receive the reward of fasting due to their pure intention. The verse also makes clear that the purpose of fasting is not for a person to undergo undue hardship or pain.

It is also essential that family and community members be cognizant of the risk factors associated with eating disorders and refrain from perpetuating tropes surrounding them.

Ramadan is not just about fasting, but it is also a time for self-reflection. This can be used as an opportunity to think of ways to become a better person overall. Most importantly, for those who are struggling with eating disorders, it is important to reach out for help and remember this is an illness, not a sign of weakness.'

https://muslimmatters.org/2023/03/24/eating-disorder-and-ramadan-debunking-the-myths-mechanisms-to-cope/

20/03/2023

“It’s been a month, just snap out of it. There’s nothing you can do about it, what’s the use of being sad? At least nothing happened to anyone you love.” If you or anyone you know has used any of these phrases while talking to someone who has directly or indirectly been traumatised by the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, then don’t.

“It’s been a month, just snap out of it. There’s nothing you can do about it, what’s the use of being sad? At least nothing happened to anyone you love.” I..

16/03/2023

The stigma around Men's mental health hurts all of us.

Take into account that the actual numbers are way higher than what is officially recorded.

Stigma, accompanied by gender stereotypes associated with masculinity are often the 2 biggest factors that prevent men from seeking help.

As a society, we need to pay more attention to men's mental health struggles and involve more men in mental health conversations.

Sharing ones struggles and seeking help shows STRENGTH.

09/03/2023

Knowledge is Power.

Educating ourselves on stats like these is an important first step in ending harmful stigmas that hold many women back from seeking the help they need.

Share this post with your friends and family to spread awareness.

08/03/2023

For 2023 International Women's Day, the UN asks us to recognize “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

The observance will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities, and it will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.

The purpose of the day is to uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality to mobilize all people to do their part.

04/03/2023

March is Self-Injury Awareness Month — Let’s Kick Stigma’s Butt 🧡

Self-injury is a deliberate, non-suicidal behaviour that inflicts physical harm on one’s body (commonly referred to as non-suicidal self-injury, or NSSI).

Generally, self-injury is a private, habitual behaviour — not attention-seeking, nor meant to be manipulative.

One of the most common questions I come across is, “why?”. However, there is no one answer, and there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrongs’. Self-harm behaviours are extremely complex and subjective — but, in the simplest and most vague of terms, it may be described as a physical solution to an emotional wound.

Though self-harm behaviours are treatable, many do not seek support because they:
- Think people will not understand
- Do not trust their information will be kept private
- Do not believe anyone will be able to help
- Are afraid that people will react negatively to their self-harming behaviour (and yes, this includes mental health professionals!)
- Are ashamed, guilty or angry about their self-harming behaviour
- Believe they should be able to cope on their own

Self-harm urges are can feel overpowering, but there are ways to manage them through understanding your patterns of self-harm, distraction, delaying urges, and seeking help.

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19/02/2023

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We wanted to let you know that we have put together an online Teen Su***de Prevention Toolkit on our website the link in the bio with loads of information about warning signs, symptoms of Depression, how to help someone who is Suicidal, Su***de Safety Plan, tips for parents and teachers, and online videos. Follow the link in the bio to download the NEW Teen Su***de Prevention brochure too. ***de