The effects of mental illness are becoming more burdensome. It is becoming impossible to deny the influence that mental illness may have on our day-to-day lives, our society, and our economy as the number of individuals who report worrying about their mental health continues to increase steadily. Even though twenty percent of India's population is affected by mental illness, barely ten to twelve percent of those people seek treatment for their conditions. It is important to seek medication or mental health advice.
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health refers to a person's overall psychological well-being. It includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves in their daily life.
Mental Illness in Hindi is known as "मानसिक बीमारी" (maanasik bimaari)"
A person with good mental health can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to their community.
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We need to increase awareness about mental health issues and work to decrease the work environment plays a vital role in a human’s life.
The stigma associated with mental illness if we are going to be able to develop a society where everyone can obtain the help they need. The Indian government has taken steps to address mental health concerns through the National Mental Health Program (NMHP), which provides mental health services at various levels of healthcare delivery.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and support groups play a crucial role in raising awareness and providing support to individuals with mental health issues and their families. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) India and the Live Love Laugh Foundation are actively involved in this regard.
Since its inception in 2013, World Mental Health Day has been commemorated by a worldwide campaign coordinated annually by the World Health Organization (WHO).
On October 10 of each year, the day known as Mental Health Day is observed to increase awareness of mental health worldwide and mobilize efforts to help individuals struggling with mental health concerns.
Why Mental Health Awareness Is Important
Mental health awareness is crucial as it helps to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, improve understanding of mental health conditions, and increase access to necessary mental healthcare and support services.
- Reducing stigma: Awareness campaigns help to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. When people understand that mental health disorders are common and treatable, they are more likely to seek help without fear of judgment or discrimination.
- Early intervention: Awareness empowers individuals to recognize symptoms of mental health problems in themselves and others. Early detection allows for timely intervention, which can prevent conditions from worsening and improve outcomes.
- Promoting understanding: Increased awareness fosters understanding and empathy towards those struggling with mental health challenges. It encourages supportive environments where people feel comfortable discussing their experiences and seeking assistance.
- Preventing crises: By educating individuals about mental health, we can equip them with coping strategies and resources to manage stress, anxiety, and other issues. This proactive approach helps to reduce the likelihood of mental health crises and related negative outcomes.
- Improving overall well-being: Mental health is integral to overall well-being and quality of life. When individuals prioritize their mental health, they are better equipped to handle life's challenges, maintain healthy relationships, and pursue their goals effectively.
Misconceptions About Mental Health
- Mental health issues are not real illnesses: Many people believe that mental health conditions are not real illnesses and that individuals with mental health issues can simply "snap out of it" if they try hard enough. In reality, mental health conditions are real, serious illnesses that require proper treatment and support.
- Mental health issues are a sign of weakness: Some people believe that individuals with mental health issues are weak or lack willpower. This is not true, mental health issues can happen to anyone, regardless of their strength or willpower.
- Talking about mental health issues is taboo: Many people believe that discussing mental health issues is taboo and should be avoided. In reality, talking about mental health issues can be very helpful and is an important step in seeking help and support.
- Mental health issues are a personal failing: Some people believe that mental health is a person being lazy! In reality, mental illness can affect your daily life a lot more than you know.
- Mental health conditions are a one-time event: Many people assume that mental health conditions are a one-time event that can be cured, but mental health conditions are often chronic conditions that require ongoing management and support.
"It's important to take care of your mental health just as you would your physical health." - Unknown
"Mental health is not a choice, it's a necessity." - Unknown
Mental health is a level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness." - World Health Organization
"It's okay to not be okay, seek help and take care of your mental health." - Unknown
"The greatest wealth is to live content with little." - Plato
"Mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally and socially healthy – the way we think, feel and develop relationships – and not merely the absence of a mental disorder." - World Health Organization
Why Mental Health Awareness Matters
Awareness may be defined as knowledge about mental health, its illnesses, and the treatment options for such problems.
One of the primary factors contributing to the fact that people suffering from mental illness do not seek professional care is the possibility that they do not recognize the symptoms as indicators of mental disease. For an individual afflicted with depression, for instance, obvious symptoms such as a lack of drive and an overwhelming desire to sleep could be mistakenly ascribed to laziness.
Understanding also allows us to better grasp what we are going through and identify precisely whom we need to seek assistance from since it enables us to narrow down the pool of potential candidates. The fitness regimes for mental health include proper diet, exercise or yoga, open communication, interaction, and games.
Why Is Mental Health Important For Students?
What are the best ways to communicate about your mental health for students? Students need to have the support of their teachers and other school professionals as they adjust to studying in person in a classroom setting, particularly after long school closure periods.
The following tips may be useful in addition to continuing to apply the many strategies that instructors have been using to guarantee the continued academic growth and emotional well-being of their pupils:
- Be attentive to the worries of the children
Many children and adolescents' mental health and well-being were hampered due to COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of schools. Instructors must display knowledge as well as empathy by actively listening to the concerns expressed by their pupils.
You should make it possible for your pupils to have a one-on-one talk with you so that you can reconnect with them and address any worries that may have emerged because their school was closed. Please follow the procedures outlined in the child protection or child safeguarding systems that are in place if a kid reveals something very troubling.
- Make sure to check on the children's progress.
Keep in mind that youngsters could have trouble focusing at first or want more time to get back into the swing of things when it comes to studying. Make sure that there are chances for the children to take breaks, get up and walk about, and talk to their other classmates and friends.
- Make sure that students have access to proper information about COVID-19
When students return to school, they may be exposed to new information and come up with new opinions and concerns about COVID-19. Children seek and want accurate knowledge. To provide children with correct answers to the questions regarding COVID-19, you should use child-friendly and age-appropriate materials that are readily accessible in your nation or area and are based on scientific evidence.
Be careful to highlight all of the efforts that have been made and safeguards that have been taken to limit risks in the preparations for reopening the schools, even if it is necessary to note the scope of what is occurring worldwide.
Be on the lookout for any potential red flags that might indicate that a child's behaviour interferes with their capacity to explore, play, and learn.
Pay close attention to any changes in behavior shown by the youngsters. Please follow the school's policy and/or seek extra help and direction if you see substantial changes in a student's behavior, particularly if these changes continue over time and prohibit the kid from functioning or participating in activities.
If teachers see that a student is having difficulty, they have several avenues open to them to provide help. Nevertheless, suppose you believe that the kid requires the assistance of a specialist. You should seek extra support and send the child to child protection agencies, primary care doctors, or mental health specialists.
If a kid is having trouble concentrating or learning, you should continue to assist in learning as well as advice, and you should also provide more help for the child or move at a slower pace.
- Encourage pupils to participate in sports and play by having them engage with one another.
Children in several countries must maintain certain physical distances from one another and are barred from accessing playgrounds and other public locations to engage in play and social interaction with their contemporaries.
- Set a positive example for pupils by demonstrating healthy coping strategies – Be reassuring, truthful, and kind.
Teachers have the potential to serve as exemplary individuals for the kids in their classrooms. Children will watch you and learn how to handle difficult circumstances from the coping mechanisms that you demonstrate regularly. Maintain composure, be truthful and kind, and show youngsters that you care by displaying a good attitude.
How To Talk To Someone With Mental Health Issues?
- Be Patient and Listen
Don't interrupt them while they're talking; let them finish their phrases and complete their ideas. You are free to answer after they have completed speaking.
- Give them an indication of whether or not you understand
If someone has recently opened up about something personal and you've been through something like that, you should share your story with them. Knowing that one is not the only one going through anything is beneficial. Be careful not to shift the conversation's emphasis to your challenges; instead, pay attention to the other person's requirements.
- Avoid being judgemental
It will not assist the situation if you inform them that they are acting strangely or insane. Give them your whole attention. Try not to react with words that belittle their feelings or what they are going through, such as "You're simply having a terrible week" or "I'm sure it's nothing." Instead, try to respond with phrases that validate their feelings and what they are going through.
- Be ready to continue the conversation if it becomes necessary.
Although it may come as a great release for someone to reveal something they have been holding hidden for a long time, dealing with mental health issues often does not resolve itself with just one talk. Inform the individual who has already talked with you that they may get in touch with you once again whenever they are experiencing difficulties if they so choose. It is OK to let them know if there are particular times of the day or days of the week when you won't be able to meet with them.
- Do not spread rumors based on what other people have told you.
If someone is talking to you about their mental health, it was probably difficult for them to muster up the courage to speak to you about it in the first place. You shouldn't discuss what they tell you with other kids at school since it might be harmful to their mental health. Allow them to contribute on their terms.
If you are confused, you should perform some investigation into the information that has been provided to you. Ensure your information comes from reputable sources, such as government agencies and health groups.
- Communicate Your Feelings!
It is important to have friends who trust you. Still, if a friend lets you know that they have thoughts or plans of hurting themselves or another person, that they have been hearing voices or seeing things that no one else can hear or see, or that they have any other signs and symptoms that shouldn't be ignored, then you need to tell an adult what is going on. That doesn't make you a terrible friend; it only indicates that the situation calls for more assistance than you can.
5 NGOs for Mental Health Issues in India
Organizations are thriving in their own right and making significant contributions to India's efforts to reduce the prevalence of mental disease and improve mental health. It's possible that there won't be enough resources, and there might also be other obstacles. Nevertheless, as a component of community-based rehabilitation, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have certain inherent benefits, such as working in conjunction with other organizations, applying innovations, and maintaining administrative openness. Here is how NGOs for mental health work.
- Sangath: Sangath is an NGO based in Goa that works on various aspects of mental health, including research, capacity building, and service delivery.
- The Banyan: The Banyan is a Chennai-based organization that focuses on providing mental health support and rehabilitation to homeless and marginalized individuals, including those with severe mental illnesses.
- Minds Foundation: Minds Foundation operates in Gujarat and focuses on providing mental health education, awareness, and treatment to rural communities.
- Snehi: Snehi, based in New Delhi works on promoting mental health awareness and providing counseling and support services to individuals and families dealing with mental health issues.
- Mann Mela: Mann Mela is a mental health initiative based in Mumbai that focuses on promoting mental well-being and providing support services through various activities and events.
Yoga for Students with Mental Issues
The stress of keeping up with the education, latest trends, demands of society, peer pressure, and fear of failure altogether take a toll on the student's mental health. As a result, students become isolated and start doubting their capacity and ability. While one cannot slow down or hold the shuffles due to the fast-paced world, you are one of the most helpful activities a student can involve in his or her routine.
There is no doubt that there are different forms of yoga, each for maintaining overall health, fitness, skin, and hair, and, of course, to release pressure from the brain. So, here are the best forms of yoga for students with mental health issues.
- Bhramari Pranayama, or Controlled Breathing Exercise
- Viparita Karani or Restorative Pose
- Balasana or Child Pose
- Uttanasana or Standing and Forward Bend Pose
- Shavasana or Corpse Pose
You can find the details of how to perform these yogas at home with the help of a yoga teacher. Further, Superprof can help you find the best guide or mentor to teach you yoga at home.
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