All In Our Heads
~ A Blog on myths and stereotypes surrounding mental health and depression by Raj Mishra
India is the world’s seventh-largest country, with a population of 1.3 billion people. With a population of 136.64 crore people, India ranks a dismally low 139th in the world in terms of happiness. The Gallup World Poll questions were used to rank countries around the world in terms of happiness. Other parameters, such as GDP and social security, are then connected with the results. Despite our knowledge of numbers, we often overlook the most crucial part of our health: our “mental health.” Because the world is built on the assumption that what we see exists and what we don’t see does not. As a result, people all over the world, particularly in India, choose to ignore mental health.
The terms “mental health” and “behavioral health” refer to the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being of people. It is a state of well-being in which a person recognizes his or her own skills, is able to cope with everyday challenges, works productively, and contributes to his or her community.
The brain is the most powerful organ in a human being; it has the ability to think and make decisions. This is why mental health is so important. Because a person’s brain can do anything, it’s critical to keep it healthy and on the correct track, with the proper track being a fertile and socially responsive mindset. It’s amazing to watch oneself develop as a person, but if you’re a parent, it’s much more amazing. But how would you do it if you weren’t in a decent frame of mind? As a result, it’s easy to see why mental health is such an important topic to talk about and address.
MYTHS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION
- MENTAL PROBLEMS ARE NOT REAL
The assertion above has always been untrue, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the assertion is possibly the furthest from the truth it has ever been. According to the WHO’s Trusted Source from 2001, “one in every four persons in the globe will be impacted by mental or neurological illnesses at some point in their lives.” 450 million people are currently living in such circumstances. Mental diseases are “among the primary causes of ill health and disability worldwide,” according to WHO.
2. MENTAL ILL-BEING IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS
This isn’t accurate any more than suggesting that a broken limb indicates weakness and inability to live a happy life. Mental illnesses are illnesses, not flaws in one’s character. People suffering from depression, for example, cannot “snap out of it,” any more than someone suffering from diabetes or psoriasis can “snap out of it.”
3. LOG KYA KAHENGE.
The contrast between structured treatment sessions and talking with friends is enormous. Both can help persons with mental illnesses in different ways, but only a skilled therapist can handle difficulties constructively and in ways that even the closest friends cannot.
The stigma around mental health and the discrimination an individual endures for coming out about their mental health is the reason our family members are concerned about “log kya kahenge.” In some circumstances, family members are also subjected to discrimination, although the individual who is suffering is often referred to as “bringing shame to us.”
When someone views you negatively because of a particular quality or attribute, this is known as stigma.
4. THE STIGMA FACTOR
People with mental health concerns may face societal stigma and discrimination, which can exacerbate their problems and make recovery more difficult. It may drive the individual to resist seeking help because they are afraid of being stigmatized.
But what our family members and parents fail to recognize is the negative consequences of ignoring the situation, which is extremely damaging to our self-esteem. In the long run, it instills in the victim self-doubt and the notion that they will never be able to achieve anything worthwhile in life. When there is a combination of self-doubt and guilt inflicted by relatives. The victim sinks deeper into a cycle of depression, loneliness, and powerlessness.
Because they are made to feel out of place and forced to adopt particular “normal” personalities. All of these characteristics reduce their chances of being happy and self-sufficient. They will destroy their loved ones if the misery continues. For the sake of others who, as the victim assumes, would forget or not even think about them.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?!
• Seek the mental health help you require. Don’t let your fear of being diagnosed with a mental disorder prevent you from seeking treatment.
• Don’t believe everything you hear. When you hear or experience something frequently enough, you may begin to believe it yourself. Try not to be influenced by other people’s ignorance when it comes to how you feel about yourself. Mental disease does not imply a lack of strength. It’s unusual that you’ll be able to handle it on your own. Talking to a healthcare expert about your mental health difficulties will aid you in your recovery or management.
• Do not go into hiding. Many people who have mental illness wish to withdraw from society. Do not stop contacting people you can trust, such as family, friends, or coaches.
• Make connections with people. Get involved with a mental health support group. Isolation can be alleviated by online or in-person support and it will let you realize that your feelings and experiences are not unique.
• Your disease is not you. Don’t let your sickness define you, as it might for others. Say ‘I have schizophrenia’ instead of ‘I’m schizophrenic.’ Language has a lot of power.
• It’s not about you. Remember that other people’s opinions are frequently based on a lack of knowledge more than anything else. Even before someone knows who you are, you are judged! Believe them when they say their opinions have nothing to do with you.
CONCLUSION:
We, the audience, have a tendency to popularise films that depict the negative aspects of mental illness. Perhaps we, as a society, refuse to acknowledge the problem. Or we are unwilling to acknowledge the importance of mental health. Perhaps our prejudices are preventing us from moving forward.
We need to converse more, listen more, notice our loved ones more, and pass judgment on individuals less. Every person is lovely in their own way. Encourage a friend or family member to speak up and ask for assistance. Getting therapy or seeing a psychologist won’t help them unless they’re in a safe atmosphere.
The primary pillars of healing are family and friends. It becomes more difficult to achieve wellness if they turn their back on the sufferer and refuse to help and listen as they simply ignore them. So, please cease caring about a society incapable of assisting you in your development. Take a stand for yourself if no one else will, since you are not alone. It’s genuine since you’re alive and experiencing it. Take a stance for yourself, get treatment, and connect with others who are dealing with similar issues.
This will assist you in regaining your confidence. And if you’ve suffered in the past, now is the time to reclaim your power and let the world know that there are people who care.
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Instagram: @_mishraj_
