Mental Health: Is it Stigma or Ignorance?

Sharing is Caring:

The recent incident of the tragic death of famous Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput has devastated all of us and it feels like a personal loss. The actor had Name, Fame, Money… then ‘why’, he left us all unanswered.

As soon the unfortunate news came, my memory flashed back to the year IPL 2013, where Pepsi had invited him for the promotion. It was my first time watching the cricket live, but when he arrived after some time, my friend and I went to see him and we completely lost the match due to his charismatic persona.

He was looking dashing in a black outfit, and I was one of the lucky people to get his autograph.

Late actor Sushant’s tragic demise has raised the question again on depression and other mental illnesses.

Due to the pandemic crisis and lockdown, somehow everyone’s mental health has got affected due to various reasons.

According to the economic times portal, suicide was the leading cause of over 300 deaths in India due to distress triggered by the lockdown.

So, apart from Covid-19, we need to focus on mental health too now.

But I want to know, is the talk on mental health is still considered taboo? I don’t think so, at least not in urban life. It’s the ignorance towards mental health which is the main cause of rising suicide cases and we need to Break The Silence.

I know suddenly everyone is talking about it including myself, but why not? We should talk and let this awareness keep going.

Social media is now flooded with mental health awareness and each one is trying their way to express their emotions and understanding behind it.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞!
“𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚, 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞”

– Why would a person share their thoughts with someone they hardly know? Someone they only know through their posts, What if actually someone approaches you reading your post, not now, but maybe 6 months later, can you be sure?

– And do you think it will work? See, am not being judgmental and appreciate this kind of gesture, but let’s be empirical.

I am sure people in need do get in touch with their friends and family, but do they open their hearts? Do they vent out their feelings? It all depends upon the ratio with their closed ones. Many times, they fear acumen which stops them. Sometimes not getting proper advice, and sometimes we don’t know the way to heal them.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧!

Therefore, I always recommend taking a professional help not just for that person, but also for their closed ones. There are many causes and different diagnosis, which only a professional can tell. A counselor will guide you on how to help that person along with counselling him/her.

This way you can understand that person suffering and also how to heal them. Also, in case that person doesn’t want to opt for professional help for whatsoever reasons, you can consult yourself and then do the needful.

I am saying this because I have seen someone close to me suffering from mental illness and it does affect the entire family. It’s terrible and scary, and need lot of patience which may take months or years. One should know how to make them calm and ease their mind, it takes time, but keep doing and do not loose hope.

In my belief, the problems which can be solved by money are the easiest ones rather than mental health issues which are fragile.

Further, mental health can affect anyone at any time of our life. During my medical college days, I met my classmate, who was ‘badass’ and had that aura of being delinquent. Many times he used to get involved in the class fight. At the same time, he was mischievous and naughty, a prankster, and a humorous person. We always enjoyed his company due to his fun side and he also had a good academic record.

mental health awareness — PIN THIS ARTICLE!

Fast forward to some years later, started with own clinic and newly married, we got the news of his unfortunate death and we were appalled. How come that person took his own life? He was someone who loved his life to the fullest, also if he had killed someone that we would have believed due to his character, but his own life, and that made me think nothing remains the same. Also, if you see the history, many renowned people have taken their own life. They were all genius and a genius mind suffering is also difficult to control.

We need to talk more, to understand more, to love more so that no one goes into the phase of depression.

We have created a surrounding where there is a race to top before it was only in the real world, but now there is a race in the “virtual” world too. It affects mental health and the only way to prevent them is COMMUNICATION (with the real world and people)

We as a society need to spread the awareness of not just on climbing the ladder of success, but also on failure. There are a lot of movies and books which inspire and teach the same, but if we start implying it in our life and make our future generation- kids know it from the start, then there will be a big difference. I also feel if we are connected spiritually, it gives strength and inspiration. Holy books are sent to mankind for guidance and it does have answers.

We need to Break The Silence and let this taboo/stigma or ignorance fade away from our life.

Lastly, I would like to conclude it with the ~~bitter~~ reality of life which may sound cliché.