MIND AND MATTER

According to experts, friends and family can play a crucial role in battling mental issues such as depression and anxiety

According to a World Health Organisation report released earlier this year, about 7.5% Indians suffer from some form of mental disorder. The report estimated that 56 million Indians suffer from depression, while another 38 million struggle with anxiety disorders. In fact, mental illnesses are affecting an increasing number of younger people these days. According to Suyog V Jaiswal, assistant professor in psychiatry, HBT Medical College, various stressors such as finances, relationships, genetic vulnerabilities and poor social support can lead to mental illness. Among teenagers and young adults, academics counts among the prime factors that may cause anxiety disorders. Dr PD Lakdawala, a psychiatrist at Bhatia Hospital says, “In today’s highly competitive

low initiative drive, irritability, severe anxiety, negative outlook and suicidal thoughts

Behavioral symptoms include scholastic problems such as poor performance, social anxiety, addiction to smoking or drugs, and eccentric or irritable behaviour. environment, many parents put too much pressure on their children to perform. Sometimes, parents’ high expectations can also cause problems.” Your professional life can also affect your mental health. Lakdawala says, “Stress at work, lack of recreational activities, improper remuneration, and low appreciation may lead to mental problems.” Marital problems among parents may also cause undue stress for children. Lakdawala says, “In such cases, both parents are unable to play their roles well. The situation is severer in nuclear families. Earlier, in joint families, if the parents had issues, the other members of the family would help the kids, but that can’t happen in nuclear families. And, with both parents working, a child may be neglected a lot.”

THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

Another worrying trend for parents these days is the Blue Whale game, which according to reports, targets depressed individuals. The game has several tasks that a victim has to do, with the final task being suicide. Jaiswal says, “Just playing the game itself signifies the presence of depression or other mental disorders in an individual. Blue Whale is not an entertaining game, but it taps into a player’s negative feelings and emotions, which can lead to acts of self-harm. It’s not a game that you can play if you want to, but there are supposedly covert ways of recruiting players. The game typically targets impressionable and naive minds who are troubled.” He adds, “The disturbed mental status of the player takes a toll on his or her family life. One of the tasks in the game allegedly involves not talking to anyone for a full day. If, despite silent behaviour for a full day, a family can’t reach out and bail the player out that indicates a difficult and ignorant family relationship.”

HELP AT HAND

People struggling with mental disorders may not realise that they are suffering, but close friends and family can surely be of help. Lakdawala says, “Family members have to be vigilant about new behavioral patterns among their loved ones. The next step is to consult a doctor and ask them whether such behaviour is normal. If the situation is beyond control, a family may consult a counsellor. For more serious problems, there are psychiatrists. It is up to the family to insist that these treatments are necessary. They should stop criticising the patient, give them encouragement and try to rehabilitate them.”