World Mental Health Day: Anxiety, Depression And Other Most Common Mental Illnesses Among Youth

Every year, October 10 is marked as World Mental Health Day, with an aim to reflect on our mental wellbeing and to strike a conversation around the less talked about, yet equally or even more important health issues a large section of the population faces.

A WHO report stated that around 7.5 per cent people in India are victims of mental depression and the country contributes 15 per cent of global mental illness.

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Depression is ranked by WHO as the single largest contributor to global disability. It is also the major contributor to suicide deaths. The early signs of depression are constant sadness for a prolonged period (over two weeks is major depressive disorder), loss of interest in personal and social activities, low self-worth and disturbed sleep.

Anxiety

Anxiety is also one of the most prevalent mental health conditions among youths. Anxiety tends to become more intense and at times can occur or no reason. Anxiety is characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities.

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Self-harm

Cases of self-harm have been on the rise among the youths in India. Injure themselves with knives, blades, or other sharp objects has been a worryingly increasing trend, especially among those suffering from anxiety. Though it is often mistaken to be a suicidal tendency, experts say it is an attempt by those suffering from anxiety to not kill themselves Substance abuse is also seen as self-harm.

Suicidal tendencies

Suicide is directly linked to stress, anxiety and depression. If unattended other mental health conditions could push people to take their own lives as they do not feel like being alive or active and thinks of suicide as an escape route for their problems.

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Eating disorders

Though it is not mostly viewed by the general public as a mental health problem, eating disorders are in fact a part of mental health. Eating disorders are mostly prevented among millennials and Generation Z. Eating disorders include both having less food and having too much. Both can have an adverse impact on the overall health of the individual.

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Since common mental health problems don¡¯t have clear indicators the way physical injuries do, how do you really know if something¡¯s wrong with you?

Here are some early warning signs that today¡¯s generation face:

? Problems with sleeping

? Unusual social behavior

? Too little or excessive energy

? Unexplained aches

? Numbness

? Substance abuse

? Unprovoked yelling, anger, confusion, forgetfulness, fear

? Severe mood swings

? Thoughts of self-harm

If you know someone who has depression or an anxiety disorder, one of the worst things you can tell them is to ¡°Get Over It¡±. The solution is not so simple. Instead, encourage them to talk about it or seek therapy.

Continued usage of drugs can lead to long term physical and mental health problems. Common illnesses include liver cirrhosis, increased risk of cancer, sleep and memory problems, mood disorder, and psychosis.

If you know anyone battling with depression or other mental health issues, please reach out to someone who can help. AASRA Foundation: 022 2754 6669 Samaritans Mumbai: +91 84229 84528 / +91 84229 84529 / +91 84229 84530 Sanjivini Society for Mental Health: +911124311918