“Mental Health issues should be believed in.” I wish the topic just ended there. They exist, we acknowledge them, and progressively move forward as a society. But unfortunately, this isn’t the case. About 62% number cases of mental health issues go unnoticed and 40% go untreated. Imagine. If it was any other illness, We would deal with it as soon as the first symptoms are visible. But why not these ones? Why do we give so much more importance to a healthy body compared to a healthy mind? Why do we wait till we’re close to the brink of falling apart before seeking help? and the most questionable- why is something so important still considered a stigma?
The World Health Organization defines health as a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of a disease or infirmity. But is this what comes to our mind when we think of healthy people? Yes and No. We acknowledge the fact that a ‘healthy’ person is free from illness but do we consider the well being aspect of it too? The- no sadness, no stress, free from intense worry, guilt and fear? Usually not. If he or she looks fine physically, they’re usually healthy, right?
Many people with serious mental illness are challenged doubly. On one hand, they struggle with the symptoms and disabilities that result from the disease. On the other, they are challenged by the stereotypes and prejudice that result from misconceptions about mental illness. As a result of both, people with mental illness are robbed of the opportunities that define a quality life.
Mental illness has a long history of being stigmatized in societies around the globe. It was believed that mental illness was caused by demonic possession, witchcraft, or an angry god (Szasz, 1960). In medieval times, ‘abnormal behaviors’ like a wife not agreeing with her husband were viewed as a sign that she was possessed by demons. The ideologies around the concept of mental illness have ranged widely. As a result, treatment has historically, not always made sense and was brutal and inhumane. Dating back to Neolithic times, trephining, involved chipping a hole in the person's skull to release the evil spirits.
Treatment of mental illness has obviously taken a different path since then- doing more than just administering drugs and sedatives, but the fields of psychology and psychiatry have a long way to go. Stigma has arisen out of fear and a lack of understanding which prevents people from seeking help or getting treatment, and as a result, their symptoms become worse and more difficult to treat.
Imagine getting up every morning and feeling like you’ve lost control over your thoughts. Looking back at you from the mirror is a stranger with a haunted, hopeless expression. You remember once experiencing anticipation and joy but it feels like those emotions occurred in a far-off, never-to-be revisited galaxy. It’s the fear of failure, coupled with no urge to be productive. It’s wanting friends but hating socializing. It’s wanting to be alone but not wanting to be lonely. It’s feeling everything at once, yet being paralyzingly numb. That’s depression. Not just sadness, not just crying.
However, unlike the opinion of the majority of people- depression isn’t the only mental illness. There’s mood disorders (bipolar), anxiety disorders (OCD), personality disorders (narcissistic personality disorders), psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia), eating disorders ( bulimia nervosa), trauma-related disorders (post-traumatic stress disorder) and substance abuse disorders.
And we as a society, still continue to ignore them, blame it on other things or just refuse to accept they exist. Most people who live with mental illness have, at some point, been blamed for their condition. They’ve been called names. Their symptoms have been referred to as “a phase” or something they can control “if they only tried.” That’s not true.
There’s a lot of ways we can remove the stigma-talk openly about mental health, be conscious of language, encourage equality between physical and mental illness,show compassion for those battling with them and lastly, choose empowerment over shame.
Anyone battling a mental health issue knows how hard it is. How even the most menial tasks seem difficult. A little support, a little compassion will do so much more than you can imagine. We need to break the stigma, we need to be more accepting. A mental health disorder feels like you’re buried deep into the ground- alone and scared. You’ve lost yourself,your identity, your emotions. Be there for people you know are going through this, help them pick up the little pieces, make sure they receive professional help. Mental health check ups are as important as physical health checkups. You don’t need to have a psychological disorder to visit a mental health professional.
Seeking therapy doesn’t mean you’re weak and incapable, it shows how strong you are and how you willingly express and deal with emotions the way you should.
And remember, you have to be buried before you bloom. But stand with them through that journey. Care for them; and watch them start caring for themselves. Even seeds need sunlight from an external source to grow :)
Helplines-
8376804102- Fortis Mental Health
+91-8888817666- India International Bipolar Organization
080 – 4611 0007- NIMHANS
- By Arohi Sachar
References-
It clearly explains from a person suffering from a mental illness perspective. People need to have more awareness in a world where physical illness gets awareness, mental illness often gets ignored a subject that needs to be thought. Gr8 article.