By Rupsa Marak
The mind is said to be the most powerful and complicated aspect of a human being. It packs quite the punch, considering the complex role it plays in the overall well-being of individuals. Ironically, mental health is rarely discussed; instead, there is stigma around the subject.
When brought up, it is either brushed off as some joke, or its existence is entirely denied, making it a taboo topic. Over the years, there has been a rise in different mental illnesses. Unfortunately, most choose not to speak about it – the fear of judgement becomes all too real for those suffering.
It is easy to talk about meditation and yoga, which is what most people advise when one talks about mental well-being, but does it automatically translate to acknowledging the harsh reality that people suffer from mental disorders?
A majority of the youth now suffer from mental illnesses, with anxiety and depression being the most common ailments. A lot goes undiagnosed. Most times, the patients themselves aren’t aware or willing to admit that they are suffering. The dearth of proper knowledge further adds to the problem.
Most also turn a deaf ear to the advice and suggestions given by mental health professionals, especially in India. Statements like “you need to toughen up” or “just be happy” don’t help either.
There is a common misconception that children cannot suffer from mental ailments because they have a roof over their heads and are under their parents’ care. This doesn’t change the fact that children and teenagers suffer as well, and sweeping generalisations only worsen their condition.
The older generations deny that none of their peers suffered from mental illnesses when they were teenagers, and this thought results from “survivorship bias” because they completely ignore cases of young suicide victims during their time. At the end of the day, losing a loved one, including one’s sense of self to a debilitating mental condition, is heart-wrenching. It is, therefore, important to recognise and act upon signs and symptoms of mental illnesses.
Interestingly, there is also a growing trend of romanticising mental disorders in the present younger generation. They perceive mental health as an “aesthetic” – the pretence of having depression or psychosis, or diagnosing oneself with ADHD for the sake of being “edgy” causes more harm to the actual survivors. Terms such as “depressed” or “psychotic” are thrown around with no proper understanding. Coupled with this is the problem of self-diagnosis, which is equally harmful.
The other facet of mental health discussion is how those suffering, end up suppressing their emotions. This is equally unhealthy, resulting in meltdowns.
Research shows the importance of effective communication, which normalises speaking about emotions. Having a “positive outlook” on life is not always possible. A healthy conversation about emotions holds the space to feel them – statements like “it is okay to feel anger” and “it is healthy to cry” are part of the support mechanism and build safe spaces for mental health warriors to talk about their condition.
In the digital age, we should carefully choose the content we consume, in particular, those centering on mental health. Spaces like TEDx on YouTube, whose mission involves researching “ideas worth spreading”, there are “motivational self-help” gurus, who unintentionally, promote toxic dogmatic positivity. Being told that “feeling upset is wrong” contributes to the idea that human beings cannot speak about their emotions openly.
A change in perception can only happen through education. A simple act of listening to people suffering from mental disorders goes a long way towards acceptance. More importantly, it normalises professional help. Given the stigma, ignorance and prejudice associated with conversations around mental health, people are embarrassed to seek therapy.
How people view the subject of Psychology – oscillating between awe and silence – speaks volumes. Even in the medical field, this field is overlooked. We, as a society, have failed to acknowledge the importance of mental health professionals and their contribution to the human race.
Yet there is hope. The present attitude of young students amounts to meaningful progress as they realise the importance of mental health and choose to study the subject further.
What do we do when we’re physically tired? We unwind and relax.
What should we do when we feel mental burnout? We must give our minds a much-needed rest. Mental health is not inferior to our physical health. Both need to be our top priorities. Meditation may help in certain cases, yet there must be room for other kinds of interventions.
Mental illnesses have no age or gender. It can affect anyone. It can be as dangerous and severe as any physical ailment and leave a lasting impact on the person and the people surrounding them.
Ignorance is not always bliss when it costs us, our health. To sum up, I would like to quote Prof. Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”