How To Tackle The Issue Of Indians Still Thinking Of Mental Health & Its Treatment As Taboo

We Indians love our cultures, traditions and rituals. We follow old-age rituals that is being followed for decades and why shouldn't we? Preserving traditions is not something everyone can do, which sets us Indians apart from others.

However, times continue to change and with times stress, worries and even problems continue to occur just like it happens for the rest of us. Newer things and newer technology have emerged, making the newer generation much more aware. One thing that people in India have now started understanding is mental health.

But mental health is still a taboo for most Indians especially those who live in the rural part of the country. Mental health tends to be one of the things which are still not real for the older generation in India. So, going to therapy seems out of the question.

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Even now when someone feels sad for no reason or feels anxious, they are told to 'go out' or 'just stop using the phone' too much. Dr. Rishi Gautam Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, The GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington DC, USA says, ¡°A diya is a near universal symbol of Indian culture; it represents knowledge. The light of knowledge that removes the darkness of ignorance. The stigma around mental illness can only be removed by knowledge about mental health. That would be a good first step.¡±

People in India don't understand mental health due to the lack of awareness regarding the subject. Recently, a survey was conducted by Mental Health startup ¨C Lissun, revealing the prevailing taboo around mental health in Indian society. It surveyed around 535 General physicians, Psychiatrists, Gynecologists, Nephrologists, and Psychologists to identify and understand the status of what the general masses in India think about mental health.

"40% of the respondents said that for patients their immediate friends are their first contact person when they face mental or emotional illness. While only 20% of the respondents said that patients approached their family first when they encountered emotional or mental trouble. 43% of respondents expressed the concern that family usually is hesitant to help patients avail proper treatment or go for therapy."

However, the study also revealed that post the COVID-19 era people have started taking care of and noticing mental health. "42% of the respondents say that the post-Covid-19 society is more open to the idea of taking psychological Counselling for mental well-being."

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Despite this, the taboo remains about mental health. But Dr Rishi Gautam Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, The GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington DC, USA has described a few ways in which people in India especially can tackle the mental health stigma with ease. He described a few steps to do so:

1. Talk openly about mental health- Yours and the people around you.

If you are someone who is feeling sad suddenly out of the blue. There is no reason or no exact problem you can figure out, you have to talk about it. And not just you. Talk to your friends, relatives and especially your parents about how are they feeling. Monitor their acts and reactions and if things seem out of the ordinary, educate them and let them know that what they are feeling is truly valid.

2. Educate yourself and others

"Basic education about mental health at the middle school level and beyond will go a long way in creating a society that values being healthy in the truest sense. Just like we teach our children about healthy eating, brushing their teeth and the benefits of exercise," says Dr Gautam. Other than that, thanks to social media and the internet, there is a lot of news and content out there about mental health that one can understand as easily as possible. So, understand what feelings are arriving from which place.

3. Be conscious of the language you are using to describe people or mental health

Since there is too much knowledge about mental health and illness, people sometimes don't take it seriously. They use the illness as a means to joke around and that should not be the case. That's because people who use mental illness terms like depression or anxiety casually can offend people who are dealing with it. ¡°For eg: He has Schizophrenia, NOT he is Schizophrenic. She has depression, NOT she is depressed.¡±

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4. Accept vulnerability

People who accept their weaknesses are probably the strongest. Accepting vulnerability in times of crisis is probably the bravest thing one can do to accept their problems. "We are all vulnerable to getting ill. Physically and mentally."

5. Encourage equality between physical and mental illness

When people think about physical illness or get it, they straightaway go to the doctor for a check-up. But when mental health is concerned, it is mostly neglected. So equal treatment should be given to both mental and physical illnesses because, at the end of the day, they both are also co-related.

6. Show compassion towards those with mental health conditions.

" The only thing people with mental illness are faking is being ok. Everything else is real." People with mental health problems need more affection only because they can't understand what is happening and why it is happening. So, being nice and understanding is the key.

7. Don¡¯t harbour self-stigma.

You don't have to avoid feeling the way you do. It is only human to not feel well and to not feel good at times. Going on with your life while not feeling mentally well is just another way to not feel any better. Take help and take rest if needed. Health is most important.

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Last but not least, after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an exponential rise in mental illness including suicidal tendencies. One should seek emergency medical help if one experiences it yourself or have a concern for your loved one.

Dr Gautam says, ¡°We worry every day about what we eat, how much we exercise, the air we breathe, the water we drink etc. Similarly, we need to put in a mental thermometer and measure our emotions every day. See how we¡¯re doing. Check in with each other. Appreciate that feeling sad is as important a human emotion as feeling happy is.¡±