Is it enough that we have a day or a month dedicated to mental health awareness.
We have entire industries dedicated to physical healthy, Zumba, strength and conditioning, yoga, weight training and the incessant Fat Loss and Fat to Fit Before and After pictures which continue to be bombarded on us on social media.
What about emotions? Where are the answers to questions like.
I am a child and finding it difficult to cope with online classes. What do I do?
My grandfather died of Covid and now I cant close my eyes and sleep How do I cope?
My mom is a front line worker and I am scared and Negative what do I do?
I
am feeling weepy and sad with my 3 month baby in hand what do I do?
I am doing very well in my business, but I feel like ending my life and cant tell my wife, what do I do?
Where are the tools that we need, the skill set that will help us through ups and down of life and tools to recognize diseases like Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress, Manic- Depressive Disorders or Schizophrenia.
Though most of the school have counsellors, most of the companies have HR counsellors there is hardly any proper system in place. The schools still follow old systems like blame and punishment instead of empathy and professional help. The corporates with their continuous profit and loss calculations see these as a point to throw the person out of jobs. The industry with its ever increasing demand for productivity hardly halts and listens to someone suffering with Mental illnesses.
There is strong stigma and hush hush ness about mental health.
Here are some I faced about my blog earlier on Mental Health.
A Random Doctor in a conference in front of a crowd after I finished my scientific talk on the podium : “Hey you are ok na…aaj kal you talking about Depression! (My talk was a scientific Ophthalmic talk in a National Conference) and In a Non chalant way he walks off.
An older “Auntie”: Nowadays it’s a fashion to talk about Depression. You should have more children to not talk about depression
A Doctor Colleague: You shouldn’t talk about such things. Your practice will decrease
A Hospital Administrator: Aaj kal kya baith ke likh rahi hai? ☹
The triggers go on.
And here I am sharing this blog to help people break at least 5 myths about Mental Health:
1. IT IS A FEMALE PROBLEM:
NO it isn’t. Though it is reported more in females, unfortunately there are more suicides reported in male and teenage boys. Unfortunately the society labels of Masculanity affect men in our society to shut up and not talk about it. 2020 I personally saw the loss of an ophthalmology colleague, a Microbiology colleague and ofcourse Sushant Singh Rajput, all males, all my age.
2. MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS SHOULDN’T WORK:
There is no data to suggest that Mental Health issues affect working ability of an individual. Unemployment is a well-recognized risk factor for mental health problems, while returning to, or getting work is protective. A negative working environment may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism and lost productivity. Workplaces that promote mental health and support people with mental disorders are more likely to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and benefit from associated economic gains.
Also severe psychomotor disability falls under Disability Act. Article 27 of The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides a legally-binding global framework for promoting the rights of people with disabilities (including psychosocial disabilities). It recognizes that every person with a disability has the right to work, should be treated equally and not be discriminated against, and should be provided with support in the workplace.
But Still inspite of this, I have seen more and more examples of people subtly removed from work and also gossiped among the colleagues and clients and smirked that “So and So was depressed!!!”
3. DEPRESSION IS A FANTASY OF THE RICH
My maid’s sister was having a 6-month baby and tried to commit suicide by jumping in the lake. My driver’s brother committed suicide by drinking poison due to a failed love affair. A housekeeping staff, a lady, confessed to being addicted to alcohol as she felt so empty. Also a young man with the most successful business in the city and another young man who was a CEO of the Nifty 10 top companies committed suicide last year.
So, the above statement is so far from truth. Depression among lower socio-economic strata is the hidden base of the iceberg. Due to poor accessibility, poor education and understanding of mental health, these are the ones most severely affected and causes the maximum tragic loss of lives. The high levels of addiction to smoking, alcohol and drugs in this strata inspite of poor affordability speaks volumes about the hidden burden of mental health illness. I have seen a young girl, hidden inside the house like an animal for 5 years. She was blind by nutritional deficiency cataract, had loss of all teeth due to poor hygiene and was unable to walk due to multiple fractures in the legs due to Vitamin D deficiency all at the young age of 22. The only reason cited by the mother is “She is Mad and I don’t want to have her burden” These are the severe forms of abuse metered by the caregivers of these mentally ill individuals.
4. ALL DRUGS CAUSE SEDATION
This is completely a myth. If well titrated and well managed the patient can do with minimal medications. Also none of the medications have severe sedation or any other long standing complications. Infact uncorrected Mental Health issues can cause severe Psychomotor Disabilities which can cause sedation or excessive sleep and lethargy that can affect schooling and living.
5. Hey She Is Always Smiling, She Isn’t Depressed
“Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho, Kya Gham hai jisko chupa rahe ho” This Old song is so true. Most times I have heard “Hey He was laughing, He did not look depressed” There is no depressed LOOK! Its Bollywood which make you feel that a depressed person will be alcoholic and singing sad songs.
Infact Depression might happen to the most successful and happy people. Both Happy events and Sad events can be equal triggers for depression.
Manic-Depressive or Bipolar Disorders have typical high functional and Mania followed by severe Depression.
SAD and Depression is not the same. Sad can be a natural reaction to things like loss of jewellery, theft in the house or loss of a loved one.
Depression is a chronic feeling of worthlessness, sadness and overwhelming negative thoughts.
Usually, patients have over perfect coping capabilities and so can appear smiling, happy and leading perfect lives. But still Depressed when alone! This mere silent symptom of the disease is what is most dangerous for the patient.
Depression does not need a trigger. Loss of Job, Loss of a family member, loss of a child can be a trigger which can spiral into depression but chronic Depression as a disease can happen without any triggers. The first attack might be post trigger but following attacks may happen without any Life Event.
So Do A favour and talk to your colleague, friend or parent or child to ask how they are “Really” Doing rather than just a casual “Sab Theek Na” which has no scope of Sab Not theek.
And Yes, to reiterate, Don’t ever Say “Chal, Take a Break. Sab Theek Ho Jayega. Most of the illness are not self reparable or curable with So Called Breaks, infact they worsen more if you run away from them and don’t address it.
So rather than suggesting someone to go on a break, Hold their hand and take them to Mental Health Professionals who will navigate this difficult journey for them.
And Last but not the least, I am writing this not because I am jobless, Sad, Suicidal, Negative or Depressed. I am writing this because I have understood that Mental illness is a life long battle, I have learnt Empathy to recognize and understand it in my friends, family, patients and colleagues and I have read, educated and really invested my Life into making an Inclusive world where Mental Health disease is taken with as much casual approach as Hypothyroidism amongst Young Indians Is.
Of course I am not an expert by any means on this topic and this is my insight. Please reach out to national helplines if you are in dark place. Just Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Celebrate #WorldMentalHealthAwareness Day by taking one step to make yourself aware of this Important Issue.
