Press Release: How to take care of mental health in crisis situations?
On the 7th of April, a new Naistejutud podcast episode was released where the CEO of Triumf Health and Doctor of Psychology - Kadri Haljas, talked about how to take care of mental health during the crisis.
The topic of mental health is still stigmatised in Estonia - it is not common to speak about mental health, even with the family; people usually are not ready to turn to mental health professionals; nor is there enough knowledge of what happens during a session with a specialist, what is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, and why their help is valuable. All this feeds the stigma.
However, it is very important to pay attention to your mental health and take care of it immediately. “When we get familiar with the topic and find the courage to speak about our issues, then we will understand ourselves and others better as well as become more empathetic and open,” says Dr. Kadri Haljas.
Generally, those people who are aware of their emotions and know how to express them feel better mentally. But it takes time and resources to learn how to do it; oftentimes the environment is not supportive either. To help somebody become more self-aware and open up their feelings, one needs to listen actively and be present. “It is already enough if we can be there for the person and make them feel secure. We should allow them to speak out without any judgment or advice because every person’s path is very different - what works for one might not work for the other. Eventually, the person will be able to find the best solution for themselves.” says the Doctor of Psychology.
In addition to stigma, there is also fear of being labeled crazy, when someone talks openly about their mental health. The CEO of Triumf Health finds that this fear could be thrown overboard because having some mental burdens or talking about them doesn’t make one crazy. Caring for one’s mental health should be a normal part of life, just as it is normal to brush teeth every morning, or visit a doctor when feeling unwell.
Nowadays many people are experiencing anxiety and fear because of the war in Ukraine, which is traumatising. One doesn’t even have to be living in a war zone to get affected by violent events and uncertainty related to this. Even when people get tired of the negative news, trauma is still trauma, and it has to be dealt with.
Taking care of one’s mental health and developing self-awareness should start already in childhood, the earlier - the better. This is why Dr. Kadri Haljas - the CEO of Triumf Health, and her team have created a fun and engaging mobile game Triumf Hero, that helps children learn to recognise and regulate their emotions and understand themselves better.
When playing the game Triumf Hero child gets into a magical city Triumfland where they have to help others save the city from the disease monster.
“This narrative is interesting and empowering for children because they are encouraged to find their superpowers and realise their full potential. At the same time, they are getting evidence-based mental health support, which is the biggest victory for us,” says Dr. Haljas.
“Nowadays children do not use anything boring, and at the same time, they just want to be normal children. They don’t want to fill in any boring diaries that a psychologist gave them. Self-discovery and learning can be interesting and this is what our game provides.” says the Doctor of Psychology.
Triumf Hero game is available in Estonian, Russian, English, and Ukrainian languages for free and can be downloaded here.
In addition, Triumf Health team has launched TikTok channels where they post fun and educational content about mental health for children. Channels are in Estonian, Russian, English, and Ukrainian languages.