Bereavement in Obstetrics - Reaching Out To Anyone Struggling

Miscarriage

Miscarriages are very common, and most women will experience at least one miscarriage in their lifetime. There are all sorts of reasons that miscarriages happen, and some are still unknown to us. However, knowing it is a common occurrence is not a comfort to those who experience it. A is still a bereavement, and people going through this should be offered the same kind of support that other grieving people are offered.

 Empathy

It's important to try and show empathy to anybody experiencing loss. All too often, a person experiencing a miscarriage will be expected to 'just get on with it'. This is unhelpful and does not help the person to process their grief. Sometimes, this lack of empathy is even seen coming from doctors, which is the worst place for it. In our programme, 'Bereavement in Obstetrics', we explore the best way for medical professionals to approach treatment for a person who is having a miscarriage. 

'Lockdown Babies' And Social Media

The pandemic over the last year has meant that social media has been a very popular form of communication between families and friends. It also meant that many people were out of work and fending off boredom at home. People were posting more about their personal lives to their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other websites. For those who at the time were struggling with infertility or miscarriage, this will have been difficult. Most people do post about their family lives on social media, and there is nothing wrong with this. However, to someone struggling with infertility, their feeds might have been full of pregnancy scans and announcements. These are easier to avoid when you are working full-time and have other things to do, but during the pandemic and various lockdowns, it would have been harder to avoid for a lot of people. Somebody going through a miscarriage would be seeing the journey that they themselves were expecting to make. It can be hard for someone to feel happy for others who announce they're expecting when they are struggling or unable to live that dream themselves. This can have a big impact on their mental health.

 

Feelings of Failure

Feelings of failure are a huge part of low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. Many people struggling with infertility and recurring miscarriages have a feeling of failure associated with this. Most people would agree that you have not 'failed' if you have a miscarriage or struggle to conceive, but for the person going through it, especially if it is their dream to have children, it is harder to believe. Be mindful of this. 

Mental Health Education - How Can It Be Improved?

 Why do we need more mental health education?

The world has become a lot more understanding of mental health problems, thanks to many efforts to raise awareness and also research that has been gathered over the years. However, there is still more work to do. The stigma that comes with mental health problems still survives. Misconceptions about mental health problems thrive in various forms of media, with people misusing terms regularly. Some examples are when people use the term 'OCD' to mean that they like things to be clean, and when people describe the weather as 'Bipolar'. Many people think that schizophrenia means to have multiple personalities, when in fact this is known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Some symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. However, schizophrenia affects everyone who has it differently. Many also think schizophrenia makes people violent, which more often than not, isn't actually the case.

 

What do we need to know more about?

We've all seen plenty of information on the basics of anxiety and depression. I think these are the easiest topics to cover, because the symptoms of both are things that many people can relate to, so they're easier to understand. Having said this, there is still a stigma around both anxiety and depression, so more content in that direction doesn't hurt. It would be good, however, to cover topics that are often portrayed incorrectly, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Eating Disorders, and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. Other topics that could be explored are ADHD, Autism, and other conditions that may have an effect on anxiety levels and self-esteem.

What formats can we take advantage of to educate?

The internet is a huge resource for education, and along with this, social media sites and apps. Full documentaries can be uploaded to YouTube and Vimeo, while more 'out of the box' creative, bite-sized pieces of information can be spread through apps like TikTok, and Instagram Reels. While full length and short documentaries are very informative for those going out of their way to seek the information, the TikTok and Instagram Reels format suits shorter attention spans.

 

What is most helpful?

There really is no 'right' answer to this question. The best thing that anybody can do to raise awareness about mental health problems is to try and understand others' experiences, and if they're comfortable, share their own. Professionals in the psychiatric field can help by speaking out about the things that they have learned. Everybody can challenge misconceptions when they see them. 

 

Stress And Depression In The Workplace - Working From Home

Stress and Depression in the Workplace

Stress and depression in the workplace is a common issue, especially during the pandemic. The employees that can have moved to work from home, while others may feel anxious going out to work, but not have many choices in the matter. Although lockdown restrictions in the UK are being lifted gradually, many people continue to work from home.

 Working From Home

COVID-19 has forced many to work in a completely different way. Having an office job may mean you can work from home, but there is no ‘water-cooler conversation, and routine falls apart over time when you no longer need to commute. Suddenly, you’re working in your pyjamas, sitting on your sofa with a coffee and a blanket. While this is cosy, over time it can ruin your idea of what relaxation is. Working on the sofa, a place where you might usually relax, suddenly makes it seem like a less relaxing place to be. It is the same if you have a desktop computer to work from in your bedroom.

 Correct Work Set-Up

Employers may send their employees to work from home with computers, desks, and desk chairs from the office. This is great for making sure that your employees have a decent work set-up so that they can prevent RSI. However, not everybody has enough space to set up a desk and desktop computer. This can lead to not-so-good set-ups and an increase in the risk of repetitive strain injury and back problems. Courses can be sent out so that everybody knows how they are supposed to sit, but really there is no way to make sure that your employees have the correct setup all of the time.

 Repetitive Strain Injury

Back, shoulder and other repetitive strain pain can cause stress in the workplace. Not being able to relax in spare time can also cause stress. When the workplace is suddenly your home, you might struggle to know when to stop work. It might be hard to feel motivated to start work as well. Being overly productive or counter productive can have an effect on emotional well-being.

 Empathy

It’s important for employers to regularly check on their employees during this time and show kindness and understanding to those who are struggling with any changes that may have been made. It might be good to set up regular group meetings (online) in order to keep the team spirit alive. Encourage them to speak up if they’re struggling, and see what changes you could make to improve their situation.  

Tragedy In Psychiatry DVD – A Harrowing Story

 Trigger Warning: Mention of suicide

Why does it happen?

Although there can be great improvement with psychiatric care for a lot of mental health problems, sadly many cases do still end in tragedy. This is why we have a tragedy in psychiatry DVD. As uncomfortable as it is to speak about suicide, it’s a topic that we should not be silent about. There needs to be a greater understanding of what people who take their own lives go through, in order for us to make a difference. Some may argue that it is inevitable, but I like to think that anybody could be helped.

 About Our Programme

In our programme, we use interviews with a woman who was also a mental health patient. Sadly, she eventually took her own life.  The programme helps to show her state of mind before she passed away, and highlights that sometimes the things she said didn’t line up with her actions. For example, she said she had no plans to end her life. I think this highlights the importance of always checking in on somebody, regardless of what they say their intentions are. Her mother also took part in an interview, so she could share the first symptoms her daughter experienced. 

Symptoms and Analysis

The woman began to not want to see her own reflection. Her mum came home to find crosses everywhere and all of the mirrors covered. Her daughter kept saying that the angels didn’t like her. Her belief that the angels were watching and judging her was completely unshakeable. In the programme, a group of doctors discuss the symptoms and what diagnosis they may point towards. They discuss psychosis, delusions, schizophrenia and other possibilities. They also discuss ways that they might approach treatment for somebody like her. Later, it is revealed that the woman was also abused by her father as a child – something her mother didn’t know about until a lot later on.

 Bereavement

The programme also explores the effect the woman’s death had on her mother. Bereavement through suicide is an incredibly difficult thing to recover from, and it was very brave of her mother to speak about the way that she felt and how her daughter’s illness affected her. This highlights the importance of support for those who have lost their loved ones to suicide. It should be spoken about a lot more, so that people know they can reach out for support, and others are more likely to give their support.