Mental Health Matters
The staff at Aquamarine Health Clinic joined millions of others globally on the 10th of October in appreciating the importance of raising awareness of mental health. World mental health day was launched nearly 30 years ago to raise the global awareness of mental health issues around the world and supporting improvements in this vital area within health care.
Travellers
During our risk assessment not only are we concerned with any physical medical conditions, but any mental health history or ongoing mental health issues as well. Both are just as vital and need careful assessment to ensure the correct advice can be given to optimise a healthy and stable holiday.
Holidays can be an amazing experience , however, being outside your comfort zone, in a different culture, language and food can be quite isolating and stressful. Travellers need to understand their own triggers and try to plan strategies to help manage these while travelling. This is to maximum their health and wellbeing while away. Travel plans should be discussed with the mental health team as well as the travel health consultants to gain the best advice.
Medication
Any traveller who requires regular medication needs to plan for how they will transport it, possible paperwork needed at customs or how they can resupply it if required ( or if it is even available in the country). The country embassy should be contacted to ensure that the medication is allowed to be brought across borders or what paperwork might needed to accompany it. Usually, the minimum requirement is medication being in its original packaging and an accompanying prescription. Some travellers may require a Drs letters regarding the need and purpose of medication. There can be restrictions on medication that affect the brain function or limited numbers of tablets maybe allowed by one person. The ISTM website lists international clinics that may be worth contacting to see if medication can be resupplied in country especially for those on longer trips.
Travel insurance
It is vital to take out comprehensive travel insurance and to make sure that all health conditions, including mental health have been fully declared otherwise it can invalidate polices when they are required.
Interactions and considerations
Some medication used in travel medicine can interact and be contraindication in mental health or with certain medications. When choosing antimalarial medication there needs to be a careful risk assessment to ensure the most suitable antimalarial drugs are recommended. It should also be considered that if travellers suffer from gastrointestinal problems, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea they may not absorb medication properly and this may impact the effectiveness of the drug. It is vital travellers adhere to food and water safety precautions
Ensuring you are well enough to travel
It is important travellers are well, with the same recommends applying to people with physical conditional as well as mental health. If people are newly diagnosed, acutely unwell or in the recovery phases travel is not recommended due to the uncertain nature of being away and the potential lack of resources and support if there were further issues.
Travel can be the most amazing experience but preplanning and considerations will help optimise the holiday and turn it into the safe and health trip you want. If you would like to discuss your mental health before you travel with one of our Travel Health Experts, use the booking button above. We offer travel consultations online or at out Plymouth based Travel Health Clinic.
Happy Travels and mental health
Aquamarine Health Clinic is a Specialist Travel Health Clinic based in Plymouth, UK. We offer general travel advice as well as travel vaccines.