India is home to billions of people, but why does more than half of the population step back regarding mental health? Discussion on mental health issues is often shoved under the carpet in most Indian households.
While today mental illness is one of the top causes of health burden and is equally harmful as physical illness, the nation somehow overlooks the problem.
According to WHO estimations, India has a disability-adjusted life year burden of 2443 per 100,000 people and an age-adjusted suicide rate of 21.1 per 100,000 people. 1.03 trillion USD is projected to be lost in economic output between 2012 and 2030 as a result of mental health issues.
Why people strive to hide their mental health difficulties?
“In my working career, I have noticed there’s a lot of taboo and discrimination when it comes to mental health conditions. People often tend to believe that any kind of mental illness is black magic. They are more inclined to a faith healer. Therefore, there’s a shame attached to mental health conditions and this one of the major reasons why India takes a back seat while dealing with mental health conditions.” Dr. Divya Chauhan, Clinical Psychologist & Professor at Amity University.
“The government medical policies and bills which are being taken seriously but are not quite supportive when it comes to a mental health condition which in a way results in paying a huge amount for the treatment making it unaffordable for many and thirdly the lack awareness makes up for another major reason for the nation in not understanding the concept of mental health,” Dr. Chauhan added.
On being asked the same question, Dr. Sujata Sethi, Sr. Professor of Psychiatry, Pt. B. D. Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak have said that “People do not come forward to talk about Mental health issues as if it is something shrouded in mystery and people do not want to be open about it.”
As a nation what we can do to normalize the mental health issues?
We should start empathizing with people: “We should start empathizing with people who suffer from any kind of mental illness rather than calling them out with some inappropriate terms because then in a way we stigmatizing the whole concept of mental illness, moreover the medical sector in the nation should start developing policies and treatments for mental health issues making people more clear on what kind of illness are they suffering from and making it easier for them to seek help and treatment.”
Dr. Divya Chauhan, Clinical Psychologist & Professor at Amity University
We should start talking more about it: “We should start talking more about it and especially in schools rather than discussing the stigma that is attached to the mental health issues because in that way we promote the stigma, moreover making students understand that it is okay to be mentally sick as we are physically sick.”
Dr. Sujata Sethi, Sr. Professor of Psychiatry, Pt. B. D. Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak
The nation still has a long way to go in normalizing mental health issues
A subject like mental health in the nation needs a strong understanding of its consequences and how it hampers a person, people need to eliminate the wrong belief that a physically healthy-looking person can never be mentally ill or affected.