June 11, 2021

MENTAL HEALTH AND INDIA

India is a country which hustles. No matter what, no matter how difficult or different situations we are facing, you fight back, work hard, struggle and eventually succeed. In this journey of self preservation and survival for well being, we neglect our mental health the most. Brain is a crucial part of our nervous system. We are meant to take care of our whole body. But mental health is always being neglected, until it’s too late. Nobody observes the signs, the pain, the struggle, the trauma if any from the very beginning. It is neglected until it’s too late.

We think it’s normal, being sad, or suffering, or feeling angry, or any sort of emotion. And it is, until it’s heightened, making it difficult to control. Mental health is not all about depression, or sadness, sometimes it’s beyond our capabilities or control. Therefore we need specialists to help us. But we Indians think it’s “madness” or think “what will the society think?”. Sometimes a little help can save us from lots and lots of things.

Mental health can be referred to as cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, express and behave. People sometimes use the term “mental health” to mean the absence of a mental or mental in-capabilities. It can affect daily living, relationships, emotional strength and physical health. Everyone has some risk of developing a mental health disorder, no matter their age, caste, creed, color, race, sex, income, or ethnicity.

THINGS CAUSING HARM TO MENTAL HEALTH:
• Trauma
• Past experiences
• Genetic
• Social and financial circumstances
• Lifestyle choices
• Biological factors
• Upbringing
• Bullying

INDIAN LAWS BACKING MENTAL HEALTH:
Health Act (MHA-87) was enacted in 1987 after a long and protracted course and discussion. The features of the Act are as follows:
• Definition of mental illness in a progressive way and introducing modern concept of their treatment with stress on care and treatment rather than on custody.
• Establishment of Central/State Mental Health Authority to regulate and supervise the psychiatric hospitals/nursing homes and to advise Central/State Governments on Mental Health matters.
• Admission in special circumstances in psychiatric hospital/nursing homes. Provisions of voluntary admission and admission on the reception orders were retained.
• Role of Police and Magistrate to deal with cases of wandering PMI and PMI cruelly treated.
• Protection of human rights of PMI.
• Guardianship and Management of properties of PMI.
• Provisions of penalties in case of breach of provisions of the Act.

Persons with disability (equal opportunities, protection of rights, full participation) Act, 1995 (PDA-95)- PDA-95 was enacted in 1995 to remove discriminations in the sharing of developmental benefits vis-à-vis non-disabled persons and to prevent abuse and exploitations of persons with disability
And many more, thus an initiative started to save people, and help people throughout. India needs to understand, mental illness isn’t madness or something bad or to be scared of. It’s also a part of body which needs help and recognised. Therefore help eachother and make India a better and safe place.

Aishwarya Says:

I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.

If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.

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