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The Spark | Ignite/Connect/Achieve www.thesparkng.com The Spark Connect Uzoamaka Aniunoh Meets Emem Isong The Spark connects Uzoamaka Aniunoh – writer and actress, with Emem Isong, Screenwriter, movie producer and Co-founder Royal Arts Academy. Uzoamaka gets empowered with a scholarship to study at Royal Arts Academy. - By Lanre Solarin Nothing beats pushing hard to break mental boundaries in order to express yourself using your gifts and talents. This was the case with Uzoamaka Aniunoh, a creative writer and actress who, after passing up several opportunities due to self-doubt, decided to go public with her art, sharing creative stories and participating in programs. In an interview with The Spark in July 2017, Emem Isong, screenwriter and award winning movie producer, gave off a scholarship at her academy – Royal Arts Academy – for anyone interested in acting, directing or screenwriting. On seeing this empowerment opportunity, Uzoamaka gave it her all by submitting her application, amongst several other young people like her looking to achieve success. Uzoamaka emerged the best, and in November, 2017, had the opportunity to meet her benefactor, Emem Isong. A big congratulations to her, and to every youth striving to make a difference. Apply now and get empowered. See page 33 for details. 16 @thesparkng
www.thesparkng.com The Spark | Ignite/Connect/Achieve Vital Signs On Mental Health In The Workplace The thought of starting another busy work year must have been heavy on the minds of some as <strong>2018</strong> began. But how can managers respond to mental health issues in the workplace? - By Dr. Anne Mbonu Mental health problems are often hidden in plain sight, like an open secret. They are the proverbial elephant in the room. No one really wants to talk about mental health and we’d like to pretend that it’s not an issue but it is and we must acknowledge it, because the consequences of not doing so are potentially devastating to individuals and to those close to them. What Is Mental Health? Let’s begin at the beginning. The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”. Mental health therefore, is not simply the absence of mental illness, but rather the status of being psychologically, emotionally and behaviourally well adjusted. This would enable people to achieve a satisfactory level of social functioning, to develop and maintain meaningful and positive relationships at home, at work and at play. In short, mental health is the capacity to live a full and productive life and to enjoy that life. In order to accomplish this, you have to be able to interact with other people in a way that is mutually beneficial. After all, no man is an island, and relationships are the cornerstone of successful living. By extension, mental illness being the absence of mental health, could manifest as the lack of a clear personal identity, limited psychological and emotional resilience and poor social functioning. This often culminates in the inability to successfully accomplish the usual activities of daily living such as sustaining meaningful relationships, coping with the usual stresses of life, producing good quality work, having a good opinion of yourself and fulfilling your potential. to diagnosis and treatment is only very slowly improving and both employers and the government need to work together to improve access to diagnosis and treatment. Productivity Poor mental health and wellbeing in the workplace negatively impacts on productivity. Chronic stress due to high workloads and time pressures is probably the commonest problem encountered in the workplace, and this stress often leads to burn out. Other common problems are angry outbursts, misplaced aggression, and low self-esteem as a result of failing to meet personal and organisational goals. Once the vicious cycle is initiated, it can become self-sustaining, leading to a steady, inexorable decline in performance. “ It is challenging to accurately compute how many hours of work are lost due to mental health related problems, but it certainly runs into millions. “ The image of mental illness that people usually conjure up in their minds is that of a person experiencing a full blown psychotic episode. However, other mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, suicidal ideation and addiction are far more pervasive and chronic, leading to a lasting impact on people’s lives. The stigma surrounding mental health makes it difficult for people to come forward and seek help or treatment. Access @thesparkng 17
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January 2018

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