MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

 ❖ 970 million people around the world struggle with some kind of mental illness.

❖ 14.3% deaths worldwide, approximately million deaths each year, are attributable to mental disorders.

❖ Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15-29.

This appalling data sends a chill down my spine. Mental health issues have been ever increasing and it is estimated that one in four people will be affected by amental health illness at some point in their lives. Mental health is a major concern all over the world and India does not show a rosy picture either. To add to this adversity, there is lack of health literacy, awareness and acceptance; there is stigma in help-seeking, especially in the Indian context. It is very important to understand that mental health is a state of mental fitness that enables us to handle the stresses of life, since it damages our emotional, psychological and social well- being. Dr. Brock Chrisholm, the first director general of the WHO, in 1954, had declared that “without mental health, there can be no true physical health.”

    Thus, it is needless to say that an action needs to    be taken earnestly to tackle this catastrophe facing us.

    As young citizens of the society we share the responsibility to contribute in eliminating this threat that is looking to engulf the entire population, especially the youth. For this it is important to first understand the reasons that lead to mental health issues. Anxiety and Depression are the most common issues faced by the people. Behavioural and emotional disorders are seen in children. With the advent of social media, these issues have increased because people are constantly looking for acceptance and appreciation through these platforms and when they don’t get it, they feel dejected. FOMO, ‘the fear of missing out’, makes them anxious. The social pressure, peer pressure, etc. contribute further to these problems. 

        Mental illness is still a taboo in India, and individuals face social exclusion and discrimination due to their mental health conditions, hence there is lack of acceptance, therefore lack of treatment. In order to be able to cure Mental health disorders, we need to work upon these root causes. 

    I feel that it is of utmost importance to create mental health awareness in the country and it should be a part of our curriculum right from the early years so that children from a young age are sensitised to the issue and are more accepting. There are also counsellors and psychologists in school these days, to tackle interpersonal and intrapersonal problems of students which is a good initiative by the educational institutes; but I feel the professionals who are appointed by the institutes should be proactive, rather than being reactive towards student’s issues related to mental health.

     I believe that self-acceptance and self-recognition should be conceptualised in the education system so that things like body shaming, or bullying does not overwhelm a person to the point that he or she is forced to end their lives. Imperatively we need to learn how to recognize that a person is suffering silently and make ourselves available. It is important that we let the sufferer know that they are not alone and asking for help is the first step.

Blog by -

Hitaishee Mukherjee 

Wisdom High Group of Schools 

Serene Meadows Campus 

ICSE - 9C