HOW CAN WE DESTIGMATISE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’ s suicide has once again brought into focus the importance of mental health, and how vital it is that people battling mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, feel comfortable, speak out and seek help. The sense of isolation brought on by the lock down could affect many, as is evident from the around 45,000 calls made to the civic mental health counseling help line. FPJ asked its readers-How can we as a society de stigma ti se mental health issues, so that those in need don’ t hesitate to seek help? Here’ s what across-section of Mu mb aika rs had to say:

Depression is the biggest challenge before every individual, especially in this COVID -19 crisis. Many have lost their jobs, while those who stay alone are most affected. To keep engaged and avoid getting into any kind of negativity, I spend a lot of time gardening, reading movies and watching web series. In my social group, we have decided to take out some time and connect through video calls every day. This engages everyone, and no one feels left out. — Sachin Gupta, testing engineer

Alcohol rehabilitation centers that are popular in western countries help those addicted to give up drinking. People come together and share their personal stories and are encouraged to face the situation. Similarly, in India, the government and NGOs should set up centres that can counter individuals’ problems and help them to speak out abouyt their mental trauma. Such Individuals should be brought under one roof and encouraged to open their heart without any hesitations. People tend to feel better when they find someone in a similar situation.

— Nilesh Kharat, student

Today menta l health issues are treated as a joke literally, and the advise to deal with them are given by those who have no expertise. It's not even taken seriously by many people. People need to start talking about this serious issue more and more. Highlight the issue on every platform possible in the form of awareness, this will help us as a society to start accepting it. Only then we can destigmatise it and save lives too.

— Krina Maru, Mulund resident

Mental health issues are real and exist, and this is the first thing one needs to accept in a society. People should extend support by lending some time to talk to people who are troubled, and understand their problems, rather than criticise them. Kindness and acceptance is the only thing people need to imbibe, to actually give others space and a platform to openly address any issue or problem that people might have.

— Kartik Bhatt, production manager

First and foremost we need to normalise mental health and try to treat it like any other curable disease. Widespread awareness has to be spread, so that the stigma can be driven away gradually. People need to be taught the power and value of kindness so that depression is not treated like a taboo or a curse. People should start treating the affected with love, compassion and maturity, rather than shunning them like outcasts.

— Rhea Pal, student

It is in the interest of all to help people identified around them to seek help with mental health issues, as that person may just end up hurting many others also. So it is critical to de-stigmatise mental health issues which can be cured and treated, like so many physical ailments which we all suffer from, with expert help.

— Dr Sujay Kantawala, advocate

Ithink the problem is there isn’t a proper atmosphere for people who are reeling under mental stress. I think we all should strive hard to listen to such persons, hear them out, make them comfortable and help them come out of the depression.

— Pratibha Jaiswar, sales executive

Stigma related to mental health exists because people are unaware of mental health issues. Most of them think that mental illness is not treatable. We have to create awareness about mental illness which will help people to understand it better and allow them to help themselves and people around them better when they are in need by listening to them, and by asking them to reach out. We judge people with mental illness and indirectly contribute to making it worse for them.

— Preethi Mutta, social work

The concept that those who are in need should seek help is flawed. Why do we have to put the onus of reaching out on somebody who is already going through a lot?

Rather, I think we can de-stigmatise mental health issues by constantly checking on our friends and enquiring about usual everyday things. Talking or sharing basic daily life anecdotes can act as a distraction and help people to take their mind off from their worries.

— Jovita Aranha, writer

We accept physical health issues, but the stigma and shame is associated with depression and anxiety. To destigmatise, we need to stop expecting per fection. Education about mental health is needed along with diagnosis. It is important to also make treatment accessible to everyone. Starting at the elementary school level, we need to evaluate children for their mental health. There should be a community wide approach to educate and minimize stigma to the one diagnosed. A weak mind will fail the healthiest of humans.

— Sahana Arody Ud yawar, assistant professor