The post <strong>YouthX Changemaker Dr Gwen Tonyane shares insights on careers in mental health</strong> appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
In 2021, unemployment rates among the youth reached a record high. To help address this issue and face it head on, Nedbank created YouthX; a movement designed to unlock youth potential by inspiring them and providing access to resources that can help them in their entrepreneurial or career journeys. For the 2022 campaign, the bank collaborated with sixteen changemakers who are shaping trends in various industries to empower and inspire the South African youth. One of them is Dr Gwen Tonyane, a specialist psychiatrist leading the mental health space and one of the changemakers driving the YouthX movement.
Tonyane joined a group of three changemakers in the Social Good and Sustainability category; Candice Chirwa, Sonia Tona and Catherine Constantinides. The changemakers were tasked to give guidance and share knowledge through a series of events around called YouthX Lives. These events took place around the country where young people had an opportunity to attend for free, learn about the changemakers and their journeys and get financial education from Nedbank through masterclasses.
Youth between the ages of 18 and 26 were also given an opportunity to enter their career or /business ideas for the YouthX Awards. The YouthX Awards are designed to find and reward South Africa’s brightest young minds and provide support to reach their dreams of making a difference in their lives and communities a reality.
The winners walk away with R300 000 worth of prizes including R50 000 in cash, a Huawei technology bundle, as well as a mentorship, learning or networking opportunity, curtesy of Nedbank.
As a passionate mental health specialist, Tonyane shares her journey and insights for those who would like to pursue a career in this space.
How did you feel when Nedbank invited you to collaborate with them as a YouthX Changemaker?
I was honoured to be recognised by one of the biggest financial service providers in the country for the work that I do to help raise awareness and educate society about mental health issues.
What do you hope to achieve through this programme?
My wish is to help destigmatise how society views mental health and help unlock the potential of those that have given up on their dreams and hope for the future because they are struggling with their mental health. It is important that the youth knows that it is okay not to be okay and it’s okay to reach out for help, reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness but it’s a sign of strength.
Tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up, what you studied etc.
I grew up in Mmabatho (now Mafikeng), the City of Goodwill. Just like the name of my hometown, I dedicated my life to doing good for others. In order to be a psychiatrist, you first have to study to be a medical doctor for 6 years and qualify with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, which I did at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA). Followed by two years of internship in Cape Town, one year community service at Edenvale Hospital and further 4-5 years to become a specialist in psychiatry (diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of brain disorders) at WITS.
When did your love for mental health begin and what inspired you to pursue a career in psychiatry?
My love for mental health started when I was doing obstetrics and gynecology, I saw how a mentally ill pregnant woman was being ill-treated by a doctor. I believe that is where my love for advocacy for the vulnerable started.
What is your view on mental health and how people perceive it?
Mental health is the way your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours affect your life. Good mental health leads to positive self-image and in turn, satisfying relationships with friends and others. Having good mental health helps you make good decisions and deal with life’s challenges at home, work, or school. People often perceive mental health in a negative light because people only seek out help for their mental health issues when they are really ill, or when someone famous loses their life by suicide, but not when they are also well.
What does a career or careers in mental health look like in the 21st centaury? What opportunities are out there?
There are multiple careers in mental healthcare, primary practitioners being:
- Specialist psychiatrists and
- Psychologists
(They can be clinical, counselling, educational, social worker amongst others) life coaching, which is positive psychology, amongst others. Whomever you choose to help you with your mental health journey, please ensure that they are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, and they have a current and valid registration.
How do you think the knowledge/education around mental health has evolved in the 21st century?
I think now that more and more people, especially celebrities are coming out to talk about their struggles and mental health challenges. More people especially the youth are now becoming more comfortable to also share their challenges about how they have experienced mental health issues. Furthermore, the pandemic helped to flash out the importance of mental health as equally important as physical health. And there are more and more social media trends and videos talking about mental health in a much more positive light than in a negative.
What do you think still needs to be done, especially in schooling institutions to educate the youth about mental health/wellness?
Mental health education has traditionally focused on knowledge and beliefs about mental illness or disorders rather than on mental health. Mental health and wellbeing are more than just the absence of mental illness, the terms typically mean happiness, contentment, subjective well-being, self-realization, and positive functioning. These are the things that should be talked about openly in schooling institutions. Schooling institutions should also get counsellors on school premises or a referral system of psychologists/psychiatrists in their geographical catchment area.
What are some of the qualities one needs to have to work and succeed in this field?
- Empathy – psychiatrists help those suffering with mental illness must use empathetic skills throughout their practice, including situations in which individuals are unwilling to seek help, unable to form trusting relationships or struggle to communicate with others logically and emotionally due to mental health disorders. To show empathy, actively listen to and respect the patient’s concerns and feelings, also show that you are concerned. In addition to medication, being empathetic towards patients can increase the effectiveness of mental illness treatments.
- Knowledgeable – A good psychiatrist should have a firm understanding of medications, their safety considerations, effects on patients, and so on
- Flexible – To create a supportive environment that tends to your patient’s needs
- Conscientious – It’s also important to be attentive to your patient’s unique needs and concerns. That means showing respect for their time, being punctual and accessible, and encouraging open communication. This also ensures your patients feel safe being vulnerable in the practice environment so that they discuss all aspects of their illness and receive treatment accordingly
- Lifelong Learner – A good psychiatrist understands the importance of continuous learning. This helps you stay up to date with cutting-edge treatments and medical standards.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your career?
You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep others warm. When we took this noble journey of being doctors, we took an oath to help others and do no harm. We can easily forget to take care of ourselves in the process, so it’s important that we take care of ourselves first to best help others.
Click here to watch Dr Gwen’s video and more from other YouthX changemakers. To keep up with the conversation online, visit unlocked.me or follow the below social-media pages to stay connected and get the latest updates.
The post <strong>YouthX Changemaker Dr Gwen Tonyane shares insights on careers in mental health</strong> appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
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