Mental health is a much broader area than we perceive. Traditionally people used to connect any mental illness or disorder with insanity. But it is much more than that. With rising mental health awareness and advocacy, people are made to understand that mental illness can be anything ranging from a chronic disorder like Schizophrenia to something much veiled as an easily treatable depression. However, no mental disorder is big or small, as if left untreated it can lead to major complications.
Mental health also happens to be one of the most judged areas. People with mental disorders often don’t reach out for help due to the associated stigma and taboo. According to WHO, the prevalence of mental disorders among the Indian population is approximately 5.8%. And despite numerous attempts to educate people, it remains one of the hidden disease burdens in India due to stigma and discrimination.
Let’s learn more about the stigma and taboo related to mental health diseases and the possible implications if left untreated.
It’s a set of beliefs and connotations associated with mental illness, stopping people from talking about their struggles – which they would otherwise do in case of physical ailments such as fever, heart attack, and others. This societal stigma around mental health invites judgments and unkind comments towards people with mental health issues.
An employee feeling hesitant to talk about their condition due to boss’s prejudice towards mental health, a suicidal student holding back talking to a parent due to the latter’s lack of awareness are a few examples.
Stigmatisation of individuals can lead to loss of opportunities. It can also invoke feelings of self-doubt and worry. For example, a recovering employee battling depression or anxiety may be denied newer opportunities, become a subject of gossip, and deal with the feeling of being perceived as weak and fragile. Mental health stigma in students can make them suppress what they feel, which can cause challenges in self-expression and emotional regulation.
‘Mental health disorders’ is a collective term for illnesses concerning the emotional and behavioural aspects of a person. Also termed mental illness, these disorders affect a person’s mood, thinking process, and behaviour. A person suffering from mental issues can face trouble coping with day-to-day activities, work, and relationships. Some of the most common mental disorders include:
- Depression: a mood disorder that can lead to emotional and physical problems due to a feeling of persistent sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest
- Anxiety disorders: a kind of mental disorder in which the patient experiences an extreme level of fear and panic towards certain situations or a perceived threat leading to breathlessness, pounding heart rate, and sweating
- Schizophrenia: a chronic mental disorder in which the patient gets hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and distorted visions about reality. It can severely affect brain development and can be disabling if left untreated
- Bipolar disorder: a disorder in which the patient faces extreme shifts in the mood ranging from extremely up, elated, and energised behaviour to low, indifferent, and sad feelings
- Eating disorders: a serious mental health condition in which the patient exhibits severe disturbances in eating behaviour and related thoughts and emotions. It can be related to emotional stress or an unhealthy preoccupation with one’s body size, weight, or shape
- Addictive disorders: a kind of mental condition characterised by compulsive drug seeking and addiction. It is mostly relapsing in nature and can disrupt the normal functioning of the body and mind accompanied by severe side effects
Though mental illness can grip anyone it may sometimes depend on factors like gender, socio-economic status, and age. Studies show that mental disorders can be as high as 33% among the elderly. The most common illnesses being depression and dementia.
A WHO study says that one in five Indians may suffer from depression in their lifetime, which equals 200 million people. But due to the stigma associated with mental health issues, only 10-12 % of them seek help and treatment. Traditionally mental illness is always looked down upon. This often happens because of the lack of awareness about the disease. Society often associates it with bad karma or treats it dismissively by making jokes not knowing how badly it impacts the sufferers and their family.
In 2017, the government of India passed the Mental Health Care Act 2017 which came into force in July 2018. The law was an act to ensure proper healthcare for people suffering from mental illness and to protect them from any kind of discrimination. This move was in succession to the launch of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982 and the addition of a district mental health program to the NMHP in 1996, to promote treatment, rehabilitation, and positivity about mental health.
Recently, a lot of prominent people have come forward to talk about it and shun the stigma and taboo. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s honest confrontation about her battle with depression made people realise that mental illness can grab anyone anytime without any reason. Authors like Jerry Pinto and Urvashi Bahuguna have beautifully narrated their struggles of dealing with mental illness or a mentally ill patient in their works, Em and the Big Hoom and No Straight Thing Was Ever Made: Essays on Mental Health, respectively. Though such voices help in spreading awareness regarding mental health issues, as a society we still have a long way to go.
Awareness plays a key role in helping people with mental illness. Some signs which can help you know that your loved one is suffering from a mental disorder are:
- staying recluse as compared to before
- exhibiting a violent and aggressive behaviour
- staying in sadness for prolonged periods
- getting suspicious of others
- showing paranoia or seeing others as a threat
- disorientation toward reality
- sleep disorders
- loss of appetite and interest
These can be some early symptoms of a mental disorder. If you feel something is different in a person’s behaviour, take them for clinical diagnosis immediately.
Taking care of mentally ill people can be as challenging as suffering from a mental illness. In that situation as a society, the best you can do is to be non-judgemental and provide as much support as you can. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that right care is provided for the mentally ill:
Treatment of mental health illness and recovery can be a long process. It is not straightforward and can have relapses despite continuous attempts at treatment. Make sure that you take care of yourself while taking care of a mentally ill person. If required, seek mental health support through therapy or counselling. Consult a psychiatrist or a psychologist to have a proper intervention. Above all, keep yourself aware.
At Velan, we stand by our unwavering commitment to excellence in healthcare for the benefit of all who need it. Velan Speciality Hospital offers international standard healthcare, accessible to all and affordable by all. Be assured you will be in the hands of a dedicated group of specialists and staff supported with best-in-class care facilities, modern labs, and the latest procedures technology enables.
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