Speak up Before it gets too late and Mental Health Crisis becomes the Next Pandemic

WHO warned the world about worsening mental health conditions even before the arrival of Covid-19. Pandemic just acted as fuel into the fire, according to the report and surveys it was estimated that the poor mental condition of the citizens will cost much more than $1 trillion to the Indian economy by 2030. In 2020, multiple antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs were prescribed to people to make their mental condition stable. When we thought the end of 2020 would turn out to be better, things went completely opposite and we were right in front of the 2nd wave of Coronavirus.

The lockdown tended to infuse depression, anxiety, and fear in people. Fear of losing our loved ones and suffering from the trauma which is left behind. Now not only the common people are suffering from this situation but even the healthcare workers are fighting the same everyday. Clinical depression is getting common in them, says a study. Billions are being spent on mental health treatments but is it worth it? ‘Covid19 definitely has made mental health a topic of grave importance but no one is understanding that Corona has not given birth to the mental health issues, in fact the condition has managed to breathe within us since ages but we always fail and avoid addressing it.’

‘We need to reach to the grassroots level of these issues otherwise the day is not far when the Mental health crisis in itself will emerge as a pandemic.’ I believe in execution instead of reciting just theories to attract audience and attention. I am the proud founder of the Peacfulmind Foundation, an organization that is registered under the United Nations global compact and aims at building a healthy world. It has proudly emerged as one of the most reputed mental health organisations and its Global Youth Mental Health Forum (GYMHF), PMF Covid19 warriors, Mental Health open mic, are other initiates that have been tremendously successful in training people and youth regarding psychological first aid.

I believe in the 3 steps plan, ‘Our first step towards the trail of curing mental sickness is to start getting open about it and make it a household term if you are suffering from any of the mental issues then instead of waiting for it to get cure by itself to start discussing it with you family, friends or colleagues. The second step is to train the higher authorities and managers regarding the same and make them aware of the accurate tools that help to deal with the condition. The last step is to stop treating everyone with a similar kind of treatment as one-size-fits-all is not something that can get applied for fighting any mental condition. Each being is different, thus everyone requires their type of treatment.’

‘Stop being judgemental, start listening, sometimes even listening might act as a medication for someone. Spending billions or trillions wouldn’t resolve this issue, neither discussion nor debates will, but care can’.

Written by Prof. Nabhit Kapur.