Mental Health in an Unequal World
You should speak plain when you speak, Brain.
Keith Newton
World Federation of Neurology
Being sad and lacking interest in activities that you usually enjoy, challenging to carry out your everyday routines. A situation all of us would have the experience to varying extent some time or other. Well, it is a symptom of depression and can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of weakness. Worryingly some of the women going through this during pregnancy and after childbirth. If anyone happens to live with someone with depression in the family, you can help them recover, equally essential to look after oneself. Depression can be treated, and it is good news. The process of getting treated depends on the severity of the condition. To help people recover from depression, the help and support of friends and family members are paramount.
“World Mental Health Day” was first observed on October 10, 1992, as an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health. It aimed at promoting mental health advocacy and bringing awareness. In addition to addressing the gap in the treatment and availability, there is an urgent need to manage workplace stress, make available support systems for the caregivers and families of people living with mental health issues. The complexity of Brain and neurological diseases often becomes a barrier to public awareness. The biggest challenge is to take proactive steps to address the stigma and discrimination associated with mental ill-health. The challenge is to overcome the barriers it creates in seeking help. People going through depression look otherwise normal, and hence it is a more significant challenge to identify at the early stage of the onset of depression. Observation of “World Mental Health Day” is an opportunity to talk about mental health and the importance of speaking out when struggling with a mental health issue.
Anyone, anywhere, can be affected. It is estimated that close to one billion people have a mental disorder? 5% of adults suffer from depression, one in seven teens experience a mental illness. In teens, it starts manifesting when they reach the age of 14 and goes undetected and hence untreated. It is the fourth leading cause of death for young people. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on people’s mental health. While the pandemic has affected everyone, people with long-term health conditions. Mental health has come to focus during pandemic times like never. People of all age groups and occupations have been affected. The impact is severe on people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions have been particularly affected. Despite the universal nature and the magnitude of mental ill-health, there is a considerable gap between the demand for mental health services and availability. Only a few have access to quality mental health services. The loss of productivity resulting from depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, is enormous. Makes a considerable dent in the economic progress world over. Despite this, on average, countries spend just 2% of their national health budgets on mental health, grossly inadequate to address the issue. People with mental health conditions are at a higher risk of dying prematurely.
Yogena Cittasya Padena Vaacaam |
By the Yoga of mind and consciousness, purifying the impurities of the mind
(by removing the Chitta Vrittis) by Yoga
Depression and anxiety can be treated with therapy and medication. WHO indicates that there has been increasing acknowledgment of the important role mental health plays in achieving global development goals in recent years, as illustrated by the inclusion of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals? Every 40 seconds, someone around the world takes their own life. “40 seconds of action” is a campaign to shed light on and reduce stigma around this critical issue.
The human brain is the largest brain organ of all living organisms relative to body mass/size. The difference between the brain and mind has been a subject of curiosity. “Brain” is considered a physical manifestation of the “Mind”. The brain is an organ, but the mind is not. The mind is the manifestation of thought, perception, emotion, determination, memory, and imagination within the brain. The human brain controls nearly every aspect of the human body ranging from physiological functions to cognitive abilities. The mind referred to as Chitta, Manas, and Vijnana, is not so easy to control. Sage Patanjali says:
The majority of the people living with mental health problems in the low-and middle-income countries do not get adequate treatment. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased our challenges multifold which need to be addressed on a priority.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh
Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region.
The world has seen great minds coming together who worked for the wellbeing of humanity. The need for establishing the mechanisms for providing care for the elderly and ensuring good mental health. There is a need for promoting a healthy brain. The health of the human being is controlled by the brain.
With proper support, you can get better.
So if you think you might be depressed, seek help.
Toons: Reema Jaiswal
Logs: Sai Baba
