‘Let’s Fight Stigma’ to break myths about mental illness
MENTAL HEALTH Experts speak on problems experienced due to high anxiety, stress & depression
LUCKNOW: It is the need of the hour to break the stigmas and myths attached to mental health and help those who are suffering from the condition, feel experts.
This viewpoint was expressed during a mental health awareness community project called ‘We Hear You (WHY) launched by a city based non government organisation Meri Pehchaan Society here .
Under the campaign a panel discussion was organised wherein experts in various fields of mental health discussed the issue that is largely considered a stigma in the society.
Experts gave various valuable talks on problems being experienced by people with high levels of anxiety, stress and depression.
The event ‘Let’s Fight Stigma’ was one of the first discussions by WHY and by conducting a talk every month on different topics related to mental health the NGO, which works for youth and women empowerment, aims at creating mass awareness.
“There are number of research that demonstrates that individuals suffering from anxiety disorders and depression face an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts and we need to do something serious about this,” said psychotherapist Dr Neha Anand, who is also the director of Meri Pehchaan Society.
Principal of Army Public School, Prerna Mitra was also among the panellists who talked about the importance of counselling cells in schools and said “Mental health is just as important as physical health to a child’s well-being.”
Professor Manju Agrawal, dean of Psychology department, Amity University, Lucknow who was recently awarded the outstanding woman achiever award by the association talked about the need for mental health wellness facilities for women, specifically those who cannot afford regular therapy.
Dr Adarsh Tripathi, professor at KGMU highlighted the stigmas and myths attached to mental health and how necessary it has become to fight help those who are suffering.