Mental health, in very simple terms, is the emotional well-being of a person.
Mental health is as important as physical health. We have emergency first aid boxes and techniques like CPR for our physical health. But what emergency techniques do we have in the case of a mental health emergency? There aren't any.
Mental health issues cause a lot of "silent" suffering in people. According to a comprehensive study by the Indian Council of Medical Research, depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in India, affecting 45.7 million and 44.9 million people each in the country. The statistical data highlights the urgent need to pay attention to the mental health of people in our country. But what causes an epidemic of mental health issues in India? Let’s explore.
Causes of the Epidemic of Mental Health Issues
The two main issues that led to this epidemic in India are the stigma around mental health and the lack of awareness about mental health in the population of our country.
The Stigma Around Mental Health:
India is the second most populated country in the world. Most of the population in India is not familiar with the term "mental health," and yet 14% of the population suffers from mental health issues, as revealed by a study in 2017. There is a stigma that revolves around mental health in our country. People with mental illness are labelled "lunatics" and treated with a sense of judgment. Hence, people are ashamed to open up about their mental state and end up in a vicious cycle of suffering, isolation, and shame. There is a lack of awareness and sensitivity about mental health in India, which has led to the labelling of India as "the most depressing country" in the world.
Lack of Awareness Among People:
Most of the people in our country are not aware of even the term "mental health." The rural population in India has limited access to even physical health care, let alone mental health care. It is important to raise awareness about mental health in India because it has severe and long-lasting effects on an individual's health. People refrain from asking for help because they are unaware of the treatment and sometimes even of the illness that damages their mental health. Those who are aware do not come forward because of the stigma that comes with the disease.
What Can Be Done to End the Epidemic?
Here are some ways to improve the quality of life of people who are suffering from mental health issues:
Promoting a healthy lifestyle: Encouraging physical health care techniques that support mental health care can be very effective. Promoting behaviours like a healthy diet and good sleep, in turn, promotes good mental health.
Yoga and meditation: Techniques like yoga and meditation are healthy coping mechanisms that help in dealing with mental health issues. They help a person practise mindfulness and improve the quality of life. Adopting these techniques in daily life can reduce stress and create a balance between physical and mental health.
Good social support: Having both social and financial support can lower the chances of developing mental illness. Numerous studies have shown a positive correlation between good mental health and social support.
Elimination of taboo: Last but not least is the removal of taboo around mental health issues, which can lead to the end of the epidemic. This can be done by raising awareness about mental health through documentaries, movies, magazines, etc.
Timely intervention, awareness about the issue, the availability of professional help, and appropriate policies are some other ways to improve the situation. It is thus imperative to believe and propagate that people with mental illness deserve to live their lives with dignity and confidence. It requires a collaborative public-private social partnership to change things considerably. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation, so there is an urgent need to focus on the mental health of our country's citizens.
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