Mental Health: Stigma or Necessity
Are you suffering from mental health issues silently? Are you wondering you would be made fun of, be judged and whom to share with? You must be worried about about the stigma and labelling that our society uses for those who suffer with mental issues. Being a psychologist I understand how people help and think. Society still lacks awareness about prioritizing mental health and feelings of left out. The actual struggle is to break silence and reach out for help. This would be possible if mental health issues would be normalized and people understand that it is as important as our physical health. This blog aims to remove the barrier from people's mind spreading awareness and give them a chance to speak up without any fear.
Mental illness is a stigma in our society from decades. It’s been an ongoing process which needs to be normalized. According to different studies, counseling and therapy has never been generalized till date. It is still a big deal and a matter of concern for the patient and it’s family members. Due to unawareness and lack of knowledge on mental hygiene, it has become a stigma. Rather than mental health issue, these problems are often viewed as superstitious beliefs such as supernatural or spiritual factors which leads them to traditional healers rather than mental health professionals. According to various studies, mental issues are increasing and have reached to 45% in 2023 among the adults ages from 35 to 44 in India. Although adults from 18-34 years of ages reported highest rate at 50% in 2023. According to the World Happiness Index 2023, India has been ranked at 126th position among 146 countries. The report signifies that mental illnesses in India is rising very fast. It is a matter of concern because of lack of awareness and superstitious beliefs.
The stigma around mental health can only be removed through educating, spreading awareness and normalizing mental issues. People suffering with mental illnesses are assumed to be lazy, attention seeking, faking their situation, weak and low will power. This worsens the situation for those who want to talk about their issues but are afraid of being unaccepted, judged, misunderstood, pitied, defined and risking their career. It is important to be empathetic to them instead of dismissive. Empathic listening helps them to break their silence and have courage to speak for themselves. People may opt for counselling which is helpful in setting boundaries, healing, anxiety & stress relieving, increasing assertiveness, regaining emotional balance, building better relationships and boosting self confidence. Mental health is as important as our physical health because we brain is vital organ of our body which helps in functioning of our body. So, a healthy mind is and brain is equally important as physical health. Stigma around mental health cannot be removed overnight but, by taking baby steps and educating ourselves, I believe that we can surely make a change.
