Towards a Mental Health Epidemic: Addressing the Crisis

After the emergence of COVID mental health is one of the aspects where limelight spotted. When people lost their jobs, education was affected, people lost lives and everyone was scared of a virus roaming in the air. This was indeed a traumatic phase in the lives of people leading to a cumulative mental health crisis in the world.

The data of NCBI states that the “Median Age of COVID-related suicide victims was 45 years (range 15 – 80) wherein 61.3% belonged to 30-59 year age group, and 75.3% were males. 50% of suicides occurred within the first week of COVID-19 diagnosis confirmation, and 50% of suicides occurred at COVID-19 centres. Hanging (53.8%) was the commonest method of suicide, followed by jumping (12.9%)” in a research study. 

Thus this shows that such an attack on global mental well-being has pushed societies towards another pandemic of mental health crisis. 

Mental health problems that we can face 

Depression:

Depression is a mood disorder defined by sadness, mood lability (a low mood on one end among other issues), problems with sleeping and appetite, and without energy or good sleep, this can be extra hard for some people. The good news is that depression has high survival potential if treated effectively as with most other mental disorders.  

Anxiety

 Anxiety disorders as a category of disease are commonly characterized by both chronic worry and numerous physical manifestations of fear that can cause significant problems. There are many forms of anxiety disorder, each with its symptoms, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Phobia, Panic Disorder Agoraphobia OCD PTSD ( or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We can frequently observe frequent anxiety disorders in individuals experiencing a kind of despair Situational anxiety disorder, might occur at any age. 

OCD

 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause feelings of discomfort and distress as a result, an individual may feel compelled to perform overt or mental rituals to alleviate or reduce these feelings. These behaviours often consume several hours of every day and can severely impair one’s ability to maintain a job concentrate in school interact with friends or family etc. Effective treatments include cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT) and medication. See AED regulations, to understand that OCD is about anxiety and compulsive behaviour. 

PTSD

 Trauma or Stress-Related Disorders It is possible to develop PTSD when exposed to a catastrophic event, which generates a continual sense of dread especially with triggering sounds or with social interaction. This sense of fear can take the form of flashbacks nightmares or even a change in one’s perception as a consequence of exposure to the traumatic event – one of the most pronounced symptoms associated with PTSD itself itself. PTSD is often implicated in hiding in a shell to avoid getting triggered by their possible superstitions) and the more such events a person experiences theoretically larger the effect too.  

Lack of mental health professionals 

India has only about 0.7 mental health professionals for every one lakh persons. The standard guidelines suggest that there should be at least three psychiatrists per one lakh population. Such a deficit in the population psychologist ratio is alarming as no one will be there in the case we suffer mental health disorders when they reach their apex. The status of mental health professionals is infirm.

People have a lot of prejudice regarding mental health problems, and it is not in a normalized state. Thus, the preference for treatment for mental health problems seems to be elusive. We are living in a society where mental health professionals are themselves convincing people why their treatment is necessary. Thus it is high time that we move towards spreading awareness regarding the significance of good mental health.

Tips to have a good care of mental health 

1. Seek help when needed:- Seeking for help is an act of courage. It doesn’t mean that you are weak but it means that you have a desire to cure yourselves. Thus whenever needed you must move to a mental health professional to get therapy whenever required. 
2. Eat a balanced diet:- You must pursue a nutritious and balanced diet to maintain a balanced and healthy body. Our body is an essential component of good mental health.  
3. Get enough sleep:- We must maintain a fixed sleep cycle for us. This will direct our body to the timings of relaxation that help the mind to release the stress and relax. 
4. Stay Connected: Maintain relationships with friends and family. Social connections are essential for emotional support. 
5. Exercise Regularly: Physical activity helps reduce stress and anxiety. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

Thus in a nutshell we shall conclude that having a good mental health is something a necessity of time. We should learn to prioritize our mental health and normalize its treatement to get a happy society.

The post The Looming Mental Health Crisis: An Epidemic on the Horizon  appeared first on DU Times.

Today, we just heard about the great loss of Sushant Singh Rajput , a brilliant student of his time and a phenomenal actor, suspected to have committed suicide but still a mysterious death. He started his career with television and then went on to films, gained huge success, respect, popularity and what not. A film of his we all know and cherish well, Chhichhore ,was all about how ending your life is not a mere circumstance of your failure or anything else. A dialog from it , “ Hum haar jeet, success failure mein itna ulajh gaye hai … ki zindagi jeena bhool gaye hai … zindagi mein agar kuch sabse zyada important hai … toh woh hai khud zindagi.” It clearly states that how much a life that has been given to you is so much important that there could be no reason for ending it. But, sometimes we forget about our MENTAL HEALTH concern that could lead you do it , because your mind is so much stronger and capable of making you do things you aren’t supposed to.

If it is what we’re thinking, then this is a an example that your mental health issues don’t always have something to do with money, fame or attention. We don’t even know what must be going on in his head that made him take such a huge incomprehensible step and now we never will. But this is not about him. His death might be the reason that everyone is speaking up, but deep down we know we’ve been meaning to talk about mental health  from so long. We should have been there before and after this. If not before, may be he left us with a mental health concern for a required change in our natures.

This article is not about his life though, but those several other lives including his which can’t or won’t or don’t come clean due to several reasons for the things they’ve been going through. Mental Health concern, as we know, is actually a great concern but how many of us actually do realize that? It might be an issue about someone’s achievements or situations or every other small inch of things; we think a person can’t be depressed about. Nobody will ever know how big or small an issue is except for the person who is actually going through it. A person coming up to you asking for help, you don’t know much about, the first thing that strikes your mind is “he/she is doing it for attention” , “he must have so many people to talk about this ,why me then?” and then the other second be ignorant about it. Admit it, almost all of us must have done it. But what if he actually doesn’t have people to go up to but came to you and got ignored as well? How will it affect him or her?

This is not about asking you to be some super hero and go on a mission to save the world and take their problems. All of us aren’t therapists either but, you never know when you might turn one for anyone. We say keep a check on people around you, do so, but it’s not always that they’d be speaking the truth, right. Instead create a bond around yourself as such that people feel free to talk to you about it, with or without you checking upon them. Everybody can’t be available all the time, but make sure if you are available, you will be there. I’m sure people putting up stories or tweets today, wouldn’t actually mind if someone comes up to them tomorrow or any other day and wouldn’t take it for granted either.

For those people who think they can help and for those who think they might need help, neither of you is wrong nor or are you doing it for some attention seeking. Don’t let people get your minds into such things. If you feel the need, do the deed. Most of these issues actually become greater issues when people think they’re lonely. Try not to become a victim of your loneliness. It is not necessary to always brag about your issues, if that’s what you feel like it is. But you can talk to people you think have got your back, or make you feel like discussing or pouring your heart out or just to make yourself feel good and to feel the support you’ve been craving so much for. It might be a friend or a relative or a neighbor or even any professional such as a therapist. There’s nothing to be ashamed of or frightened of , it’s no crime either.  I’m sure you would find at least one such person in the world of 7 billion people, and now that when everybody is taking a step forward may be more. And for those who think they can help, by now you must know what to do.

Just remember there’s no reason worthy enough to lose a part of you and there would be somebody apart from yourself who would love that part of yours. It might take some time, try not to lose patience, try to be positive and spread positivity as well. Everybody is fighting their own battles, we can just be kind to each other, only for the sake of humanity if not for anything else.

The post MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN : Medium of a required change appeared first on DU Times.