Mental Health is important!

        

Corona virus has affected many aspects of our lives – physically, economically, socially and emotionally. It is normal to feel stressed as we are indoors and our interactions with people have been cut down. 

A paradox of Covid 19 outbreak is that while social distancing is required to contain the spread of corona virus, it is also contributing to poor health due to decreased social interactions. Loneliness is causing damage to the health of the people. It is a well known fact that isolation increases the likelihood of depression, anxiety and hyper tension. 

Man is a social animal and during these times we have been deprived of our freedom to move around freely.These factors are mainly responsible for developing mental health issues like anxiety or depression. They can also affect the immune system’s ability to fight infection — a fact that’s especially relevant during a pandemic. Feeling depressed by anyone is a great risk and the most important factor for suicide too.

Mental Health Professionals report that there is a sharp increase in mental illness during this pandemic. It is shocking that 300 million people worldwide are suffering from depression. Without anticipating a corona virus pandemic, it was estimated that by 2020, roughly 20 per cent of the population will suffer from this illness.

Depression can lead to death if it gets worst. In our country, due to high social stigma, the cases of mental illness usually go unreported. According to the World Health Organization, India is the most depressed country in the world followed by China and the USA. Depression and bad mental health have been ignored as a serious issue since ages in our country. The latest paper published by Indian Council of Medical Research in Lancet Psychiatry says that one in seven Indians is affected by a mental disorder.

Even though mental disorders can be cured or controlled, most people tend to cover their issues under the carpet and suffer in silence. The subject of mental illness is also not being given much importance in our country. The amount spent on mental health comes about to 33 paisa per mental health patient if we take into account the 150 million people who need urgent care. Mental health programmes and services need significant strengthening and scaling up to deliver appropriate and comprehensive services for the millions across the country, who are in need of it.

Supporting individuals to talk openly and without inhibitions about their mental health issues is the crucial first step. Family and friends helping the individuals seek professional help is the next one. The internet and the social media has a huge role to play as well. They have the power to break taboos and alleviate stigma. A massive campaign on mental health should be launched on social media and this is the fastest way to reach out to help the people.