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 Dr. Hozefa A BhinderwalaConsultant PsychiatristGlobal Hospitals, Mumbai There is something democratic about Mental Health issues.
They do not discriminate in age, gender, color, caste, community and creed.
Despite of this universality about its prevalence, it is often neglected by the
population at large. Our world is divided into 3 factions:
1) Those afflicted with and influenced by someone with a mental health issue.
2) Those who are not remotely aware that these are problems that can be
addressed and helped
3) Those that are aware, but are reluctant to acknowledge their existence and
tend to be either indifferent or disparaging towards those so affected.
How common are these issues you ask?
Every second family has a person with one or the other Psychological difficulty.
Even if nobody in your family has a known psychiatric ailment, as of yet, it
would be such a wrong assumption to believe that it doesn't affect you. The
reason is you interact with at least 5 to 7 people on an average per day who are
so affected. Not being aware and sensitive to these issues puts the affected
person and your interaction in a less favorable position for all concerned. It
could be your relative, friend, colleague, co-passenger, student, teacher, boss,
employee or even your employer.
There is a tendency to look down upon people who are suffering from
psychological difficulties. It is almost as if it makes the other so called
normal people feel superior to those who have problems. When fact is that those
who have problems have not necessarily done anything deliberately or voluntarily
to get into the position they find themselves in. Likewise, those who do not
have these problems have not worked hard or are not superior in any way to be
spared these difficulties.
Many people have multiple social, financial and family related problems which
they cannot easily solve and that puts pressure which they find difficult to
cope with. When this pressure continues to build unabated it predisposes the
person to Mental Health issues. For so many others there is a biological or
genetic vulnerability to be susceptible to these conditions. There is however a
significant portion of people who develop mental health issues without any
precipitating stressor or event. It is this latter group that is more reluctant
to seek or get help.
It is time; we awaken to the realization that a person can have an emotional or
psychological problem with or without a known cause just as one can have a
physical problem.
Next time you encounter a friend or relative who is being difficult to interact
with, do not just let them be. Talk to Them. Understand them, and explore if
they have any emotional, behavioral or thinking related issues that they are
struggling with. If you can’t fix their issues, be bold and supportive in
getting these people a chance to get professional help. Today it is them,
tomorrow it could be us.
Everyone deserves a chance to be comfortable and happy. Depression is Treatable.
Dare to Care!
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