A cat closes its eyes while drinking milk and thinks that no one is watching. Our understanding about mental health isn’t much different from it. We carry on with our lives indifferent to the illusion of hiding what’s really going on.
However, are we right in assuming that only unhappy people go into depression? Is committing suicide a spur of the moment thing? Surely there must be telltale signs? How do we identify them? Why can’t someone just share what’s bothering them?
A study done by the World Health Organisation (WHO) labels India as the ‘most depressed country’ since every one person in seven is supposedly suffering from mental health related problems. That’s reason enough for us to delve into the basics of how it affects us, right?
There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health. People judge you when you’re disturbed about something and when you try to get help for it, they judge you even more. First things first, this mentality of vilifying mental health as a taboo topic needs to go. Let us shed light upon the most common ways in which people misconstrue its meaning.
Mental health is a fancy term to mint money
If doctors want to milk you dry, trust me, there can be many ways for it. People spend lakhs of rupees on expensive treatments of lifestyle and other serious diseases, annually. Would anyone spend even a quarter of it on mental health?
Our body’s like a machine and our mind and heart work together relentlessly to keep it going till we breathe our last. We use healthy oils, eat nutritious food and keep ourselves fit for the sake of our heart. Doesn’t our mind deserve this preferential treatment too? There’s nothing fancy about it at all!
People use it as an excuse to seek attention
While this may hold true for other attention-seeking behaviour, faking bad mental health is an unfair and slanderous accusation. No one enjoys being looked down upon or wants you to show them sympathy.
The turmoil that goes inside one’s head can only be experienced by him and is not always felt by even their close ones. Do them a service and don’t denigrate the severity of their situation.
Happy people can never be depressed, sad or anxious
Happiness is subjective. Imagine someone having a loving family and a well-paying job, being in great shape, looking like a million bucks and still saying that they’re not happy. Would you believe them? Possibly not. Are they lying, then? Certainly not.
Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide, although still under investigation, opened a huge debate around mental health. People found it impossible to believe that someone who thrived in the limelight and was seemingly well off could have mental health issues. That’s not really how it works.
People don’t project their vulnerabilities to keep the delusion about their happiness alive. They’re not absolved from carrying the burden of their own demons though. It keeps gnawing at them. Be gentle and don’t question their feelings, please.
Mental health needs acceptance; by the one who has issues and also by those around him. Changing our mentality can normalise it and make it open for discussion in our homes. Let us not be embarrassed or try to brush it under the carpet. We can start with communicating better with our family and friends, being there for each other and not judging anyone’s choices or reservations. Sounds doable, yes?
Disclaimer: I’m not a Mental Health expert but have gone through the grind of getting professional help at one particularly low phase in my life. I have shared my honest thoughts and feelings in this post. If you disagree with any of it, I respect your opinion.
This was my fifth post in the Health and Wellness series with #CauseAChatter. Do suggest any topics you would like me to write on. I will definitely consider them.
Mental health need to be talked about. Not for attention gaining but to make people comfortable with it. People suffering from mental health need to talk openly and the one at the receiver end should try not to judge them. give them a listening ear and a kind gesture. They don’t need sympathy, they need the company and an assurance that they are not alone.
Mental Health is a topic that is slowly gaining prominence and it is good that more people are talking about it. While it is shocking to read that India is the most depressed country, there is hope that now that people are acknowledging the issue, there will be some solution.
Depression is really bad we never know when it is going to occupie our mind we seriously have to be strong to face it… Being mentally strong is really important…
This is true, initially, mental health was the subject which is less talking about but after some incidences, It came into the focus. It must be understood, how mental health is as important as physical health.
Truly appreciate your efforts in spreading awareness about mental health through your blog posts, Varsha. This is high time that we change our mentality & how we look at mental health issues.
Wonderful article, Varsha. We are a society where we want to live in denial and believe that we are invincible. We not only deny getting affected, but also deny that those whom we know can get affected. People live with mental illnesses for years and years without uttering anything about what they are going through. This has to stop. Now. It’s high time.
I agree Varsha, the pain the person who is battling it is unfathomable, I have observed by brother closely and I feel getting help at the earliest is the best.
Very well said Varsha. I always appreciate your candour but appreciate it much more when you speak on such a sensitive and important topic.
I so agree with you that mental health is something need acceptance and we should not ignore this!!
This is a very important subject that you have written on. Its high time that we all understand the need to help people around us and ourselves too. How being happy on the outside may not necessarily be happy from within.
Sushant Singh Rajput suicide has open discussion about mental health. Yet it will take a lot of time to talk about it openly and accept it as a illness that can be treated
Mental wellness is a subject way too close to my heart. I feel like Indians aren’t ready to talk about it. One more topic we are ashamed to discuss is postpartum. We feel like it’s normal, but the impact on a new mom (and her baby) can be deep. Thank you for this blog. Here’s hoping – that one day we will all be more self-aware and mentally aware about mental wellness x
That’s a very well-written post Varsha. Acceptance here matters a lot. Both by one suffering through an issue and by others around it. I really appreciate the disclaimer you’ve put at the end of the post, respecting others point of view 👏🏻
This is informative read.. everybody face mental health issue at some point of life and this is very common these days .. love your write-up.
I agree with you – Mental health needs destigmatization, especially in a country like India where the population is so dense and cases of mental stress which is manifesting in so many forms is preceding known reports. Your opening lines really bring the message home so clearly! well expressed!
So rightly said Varsha mental health need acceptance not only from the person who is showing the signs but also from the ecosystem around him or her you have written a thought-provoking post. Kudos
This is such a nice initiative because it is a right time we need to take care about your mental health as well
Exactly I get a lot of the “seeking attention” explanation from highly educated individuals when it comes to mental health. I wish we become more sensitive and understanding.
Agree Varsha..this is very serious and need awareness. You are doing great and I am with you in this cause of spreading awareness. But I still feel lots to be done as still inspiring of know how it can harm people do not speak up.
I totally agree with you , it is high time people should pay heed to those who need help . Mental wellness shouldnt be taken lightly
I am always been a fan of your write up and this time again you had shared something so meaningful and straight from heart. Like you I also feel the judging factor is so prominent in our society, specially when it comes to mental health. Hope things change for better in future and people keep a open heart and give enough space and freedom to others to talk about their feelings, emotions and mental well-being.
First and foremost is the awareness of mental health issues. We as a society first need to acknowledge if there is an issue and then accept it. Once that is done, the focus can be on the resolution of the issue.
Mental health is something that is still not taken as seriously as it should be. I agree that many just take it to be something as an attention seeking tool.
When we start talking about an issue, its a positive start. I am glad we are talking about Mental Health and accepting it as a problem which needs to be tackled positively.
It’s so good to know more people are talking openly about mental health. Love reading ur views on the topic.
“Happy people can never be depressed, sad or anxious” – this is one of the biggest myth around mental health. This series is so beautiful. Well done.
If I get a penny every time I have heard that “XYZ was such a happy person, how can he/she be depressed?” then I would have been a billionaire by now. We need to talk more about this topic and it is important to remove the stigma around this.
I’ve seen my best friend go in and out of depression two times. She took her time to come out it. Luckily she has a big family and friends who were by ehr side and understood her. Many others may not be so lucky and it’s time we pay attention to this issue as well.
Juyst because of the taboo associated with Mental Health most people suffer in silence. WE really need to start talking out loud about it so people are open to take help right in time.
Happy people can never be depressed. Loved how you discribed this. And yes sometimes seeking attention minmght also be the case.
Very well written article. I also feel the judging factor is so prominent in our society, specially when it comes to mental health. Nice initiative by you.
I agree with your thoughts completely. in our society mental health still a taboo subject and people bound to behave in certain way, even they are struggling . sushant singh rajput’s case has proved the thing that mental health is so subjective and any one can go through a hard phase in life, despite being famous and rich.
Mental health is really something which need to be talked, it’s time we should be vocal and speak about. Happy to read this post of your’s.
You have struck the right chord on mental health Varsha. Mental health is a very very serious kind of illness I would say and people need to be more sensitive about how they use this. The ones who genuinely suffer from this are very very troubled.
One of the most sensible posts I have read about Mental Health. Never judge a person by what he or she seems on the outside. You’ve busted this myth, and more, around Mental Health.
These days people started talking about mental health issues. They started to accept it if they have depression. The need is to be communicated with each other. The person needs someone who can hear you and can understand him. It’s a very important topic which you have discussed today.
Yes for sure there is a lot mental blocks when one talks about mental well being. India still needs to grow up in this sphere. Also we need more mental health practitioners for giving the right treatment.
I am glad more and more people are talking about mental health and this should bring a change we need towards this topic. Paying attention to our mental health is as important as our physical health 🙂
Absolutely people start discussing about mental health and it’s very good. However it’s a long road and social stigma associated with it take will take time to detached
It is really appreciable to know that many people are coming out and talking about mental wellness. Earlier people were bound and thought it to be a taboo
I am so glad you have written about this, Varsha. We often discuss about Mental Health on social media, as trending hashtags or topics of fancy, but most of us don’t know what a deadly trap it is. We have faced it personally, and know the importance of creating awareness about it.
It’s great that a topic of mental health is gaining so much voice from people and everyone is trying to create awareness and speak out about it. I have seen happy people being depressed too .
I am glad that mental health, just like physical health has been discussed about nowadays. There was a time when it was considered a taboo topic and very fewer people could accept that it is as normal as physical illness and can be treated accordingly.
I have depression case in my family and I know how difficult it to cope with it. Mental health is important we have learnt about it with family experience.
Mental health is a huge cause of concern, especially in this pandemic when every one is working from home and there is less human contact. I also feel by discussing about mental health, we allow people to share their struggles and stories, helping create awareness on this topic.
This is amazing post . I agree everyone face this in their life. We need to accept this and find the solution. While it is shocking to read that India is the most depressed country,