I am a millennial myself. Naturally, growing up I noticed how often my parents and I held a difference of opinion over so many things. From basic religious and political views, to even the way we express ourselves, our choices in career and life; a lot of such subjects carry different thoughts for people of different generations- Mental Health is one such spot too.
When I felt the need to see a mental health professional my mother wasn't against it. In fact she did participate in the discussions we had with the said professional. However, she didn't perceive mental health the way I did or do now.
If we look a few centuries back in time, mental health wasn't much of a positive concept in a country like India. People who developed mental problems, or even those who exhibited strange behavior were considered not part of the normal society. Some were banished or sometimes even executed. They were even believed to have been possessed by demons and in such cases rituals were performed, some of which were violent and disturbing. In the late 18th century when institutions for treating mentally ill patients in India started to come up, the people with problems were exiled to these places where the treatments weren't even appropriate, in most cases making them even worse, leaving them confined to those walls for as long as they lived. Which was actually believed to be the whole purpose of these asylums- to separate the mentally ill patients from the society.
That sure seemed like a terrible time to have a mental health problem but fast forward to the 21st century, thanks to the internet and our growing need to express ourselves by different means and ways that help us be as honest as possible, the awareness is spreading across the globe, to people even in the remote corners of it. Maybe now I don't mind saying that though late, we are finally off to a good start.
In 2013 when I first recognized some early signs of depression within me, it was a Sunday morning. I happen to vaguely remember that day somehow. I was reading a newspaper column about depression and foods that could help one with it. I recalled how I hadn't been feeling okay from the past few weeks. It had started to feel more and more unusual and scary. I wanted to tell my parents who were right beside me discussing what was to be made for breakfast but I knew I shouldn't at that time because they would think I was making up something that was a total impossibility for someone as 'normal' as us.
But today here I am, in 2020, writing this blog post on Mental Health. It is liberating to be able to voice our struggles or even have normal conversations with our peers about something as basic as your mind.
My best friend is studying Social Work with a specialization in clinical psychology and she has worked with quite a few social welfare organisations including those that help mental illness patients. Another friend is pursuing masters in Counselling Psychology to be a therapist.
My point is that on this date there is sure someone you know or know of that is either studying and/or advocating Mental Health. Because there is lot more in this society than what we get to see. Someone you couldn't possibly think of could be struggling with their mental health but the stigma stops them from not-concealing it, let alone admitting it. The problems don't have to be severe- they could be basic anxiety, cases of severe burnout from everyday hustle or feeling of loss of energy to do even the basic things. These are not unimportant and if ignored for too long could breed some major disorders inside us.
The topic of Mental Health and Illnesses isn't obviously totally destigmatized but times are heading towards the better. More and more people are talking about it, sharing their experiences by way of stories or art through books, blogs, social media platforms and getting their voice out there with intentions of being understood as well as helping those who need to know realize that it's okay to feel the way you do and it's okay to talk about it. Even if some don't get you, there are a lot more in the world that do, so whatever it is can be dealt with because you are not alone.
At the end of the day, the ultimate message from around the world is clear as a crystal and hopeful as tomorrow's sunrise- We are all in this together. Let's take it one day at a time.
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