No one should fear talking about mental health issues
SIGNIFICANCE Companies must give mental health the same importance as physical health
Sadly, there still exists a culture of silence surrounding mental health – in people’s everyday lives, in communities and in the workplace. Studies suggest that at least 7.3% of the Indian population or close to ten crore people suffer from mental health challenges, major and minor.
Despite its enormous social burden, mental disorders continue to be driven into the shadows by stigma, prejudice and fear. Mental illness comes with a package: shame. Even though they can be cured or controlled, most people tend to sweep their mental issues under the carpet and suffer in silence because of the stigma attached to it.
There are two kinds of stigmas: Social Stigma, where those suffering from mental health concerns are shunned by family, society and employers, discriminated against and irrationally called ‘mad’. And perceived- or self-stigma, where an individual considers his or her illness a personal failing, and even a character flaw.
The traditional mindset has been that if one has a mental illness, it is not possible to lead a normal life. That is not true. Everyone has the right to lead a full life with respect and dignity in every respect – social, familial and professional. It’s high time we encourage people to not hide their mental health challenges any more. No longer should anyone fear talking about their mental health issues or seeking help. And to achieve this, we need to take some concrete steps.
So often, family and friends make a person an outcast on discovering that the person is suffering from a mental health concern. Friends avoid such a person and the family tries to hide their illness from the community. If we are to truly alleviate stigma, the support of the family is crucial. They need to be more open-minded and accepting. Mental health challenges should never be a matter of shame, only of empathy. If one finds support at home and amongst friends, one will be able to get onto the path of recovery faster.
School- and college-going kids everywhere face a spectrum of issues: bullying, low self-esteem, body-shaming, sexual challenges, emotional and family issues and exams-related pressures amongst others. Their complicated eco-systems easily fall prey to behavioural, emotional, learning or mental disorders. Shockingly, every one hour a student commits suicide in India. The need of the hour is early identification of mental health issues in students by educating teachers and parents about symptoms and patterns. Parents and teachers must become equipped to red-flag signs of mental illness in students. And most importantly, mental health awareness workshops and programs need to become a regular feature in schools and colleges.
Society must provide those who are facing such challenges with a robust support structure. A well-entrenched network of helplines (such as Suicide Anonymous), tele-counselling and counselling through video-calling are critical. Support groups are also invaluable. The healing power of support groups is unique. Joining such a group tells a person that he or she is not alone and isolated. When people facing similar issues come together to share their emotions, thoughts and behaviours, it can be cathartic and therapeutic. Listening to others tell their stories of trauma and triumph, working together in an environment of mutual support, and forming definitive supportive relationships hastens the healing process. Importantly, support groups insist on confidentiality, which allows for familiarity and mutual help without intrusion.
It is alarming to know that in the corporate sector 42.5% of corporate employees suffer from depression or some form of anxiety disorder. Bullying, harassment or discrimination in the office, poor communication chains, unfair management practices, unrealistic performance pressures, long working hours, lack of empathy and respect – are concerns that employees everywhere face regularly. And yet, studies show that 36% of the larger Indian companies and 25% of the multinationals do not have a complaints committee, explicitly required by the law. The situation is even worse for women. Women are still not taken seriously, relegated to routine jobs, and often passed over for promotions. Despite #Metoo, harassment of working women remains a horribly invasive reality.
No employee should ever have the need to hide his or her mental illness. Companies must have interventions such as employee assistant programs in place to help employees tide over difficult periods by offering free and confidential assessments, shortterm counselling, referrals and follow-up services for their personal or work-related issues. Organizations must hold regular workshops to educate their workforce about the causes, symptoms and perils of mental health challenges. Companies must give mental health the same importance as physical health and make provisions for mental health insurance as well. Most importantly, companies must go the extra mile to ensure the well-being of their female employees: treating them as equals, having strict policies to deter harassment or discrimination, and providing the requisite facilities in the workplace. They should be allowed to take leave for ‘mental health’ bad days.
All in all, the onus of creating awareness and fighting stigma vis-à-vis mental health challenges lies on society as a whole. Without our help, those who face mental health issues will always be afraid to speak out and seek help. We must never forget that any one of us can have a neurochemical imbalance at any point in time and it can lead to a mental illness. In such a scenario, won’t we need support to speak out and seek help?
THE ONUS OF CREATING AWARENESS AND FIGHTING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES LIES ON THE SOCIETY