Conference helps people better understand mental health

By Lindsey Turnbull

In recognition of World Mental Health Day held on Tuesday 10th October, Kelly Holding Events & Communications teamed up with mental health counsellors Infinite Mindcare Cayman to present a conference tackling mental health issues from a variety of angles.

The full morning conference was held at the Camana Bay Cinema and looked in depth at subjects such as how to increase awareness, tips and tricks for anxiety in the workplace, taking a look at intergenerational transmission of trauma, and how to prioritise your values and personal needs for optimal well-being, and much more. Representatives were also there from the Alex Panton Foundation, which helps young people with their mental health needs.

Organiser, Rhonda Kelly from Kelly Holding, said the conference was the first in what she anticipated would be an annual event, in particular targeting the corporate community and adults, to ensure that nobody slips through the net when it comes to being aware of mental health problems.

“We will be discussing issues that often adults really don’t want to talk about,” she confirmed as the conference began.  “We’ve really been thrilled with the support from the corporate community, and the turnout of individuals who just want to come and learn more and help themselves.”

The organisers targeted corporates by offering packages for attendees, which were taken up by businesses such as CUC, Credit Union, Pestkil, London & Amsterdam, Healthy Futures Ltd. and Dart.

“I think people really want something like this, particularly those who don’t utilise therapy services. It’s good for them to come,” Ms Kelly said.

Ms Kelly hoped that attendees would learn to be more open and better understand their own mental health so they can become more open to understanding others.

“So, when you are working in a workplace alongside other individuals, just understand that they might be going through something that you don’t understand and that you might be going through something that they don’t understand. It’s all about education,” she confirmed.

Ms Kelly said she had been through therapy herself and found it of immense benefit to her.

A group of mental health practitioners from Infinite Mindcare gave excellent insight into their field of counselling.

James Moore, Associate Neurofeedback Practitioner, spoke about neuro regulation, looking at the brain and helping people train their brain to improve cognitive performance.

“We are looking at the electricity in the brain,” he explained. “You have brainwaves, and we can see what the mix of brainwaves is in your brain at any given point. We can then help you train and change your own brainwaves. For example, if you have too many fast waves and a deficit of the slow waves, we can help you increase or decrease your brain waves. It’s about trying to bring somebody to a centre point, so they have flexibility and stability with their brain.”

Carola Scolari is a Counsellor/Therapist. She said they were trying to bring mental awareness to the community and also share practical tools at the conference.

“Sometimes it’s hard for people to show up at the first session of therapy, so what we are trying to do is to build a bridge between the community and us, so they feel comfortable knowing us and feel its ok to talk about mental health,” she explained.

One of the tools they teach people is to be more in the present moment.

“This seems like a cliché,” she said, “as every single self-help book talks about it, but it is more about the practical part: how do I present myself in the present moment and also assessing the pain. Think: I am feeling sad right now instead of saying: I am depressed. It’s more practical for your brain to think in the present moment. It’s not my whole life; it’s not who I am.”

Ms Scolari said they also provided tools for people when they felt their anxiety was becoming too much, helping people to bring the anxiety levels down and to ground themselves. Tools included breathing practices and exercising diffusion, whereby people are taught how to put distance between themselves and the anxious thought.

Denise Ledi, Clinical Programme Manager, said:

“One of the things that I am honoured to be part of is how Infinite Mindcare has helped bring awareness to mental health and reduce stigma, not only in terms of our general population but specifically in the conference today.”

Ms Ledi felt that everyone would benefit from the information shared at the conference.