Importance of Mental Health Awareness
Mental Illness is one of the most neglected health problems in developing countries. When we think about our necessities, we usually picture food, clothes, and a house to live in, yet we always end up ignoring one of the most important components i.e. our health. Mental health is an even undeserved cause to be talked about for the same reasons it is still a taboo in most countries. First off, it has a stigma attached to it. If you suffer from a mental illness, the common conception is that there’s something wrong with you, as a person, as a human being. Secondly, mental health is perceived as a luxury good. If you suffer from depression, it means you’re just a whiny person with all their basic needs satisfied.
The World Health Organisation has recognized the 10th of October every year as World Mental Health Day. The overall objective of this day is to raise awareness of mental health around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. In 2017, the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind asserted that India was “facing a possible mental health epidemic”. A study revealed that in the same year, 14% of India’s population suffered from mental health ailments, including 45.7 million suffering from depressive disorders and 49 million from anxiety disorders. The Covid-19 pandemic has further accentuated this mental health crisis, with reports from across the world suggesting that the Virus and associated lockdowns were having a significant impact on the population — particularly younger individuals. The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was also found to be significantly higher among women.
The state of recognizing mental health as a legit disability is even deplorable in India with a sense of judgment and stigma that comes attached to it. The stigma associated with mental health as well as lack of access, affordability, and awareness leads to significant gaps in treatment. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2015–16 found that nearly 80% of those suffering from mental disorders did not receive treatment for over a year. Mental disorders also place a considerable economic burden on those suffering from them. It has been found that expenditure incurred on the treatment of mental disorders often drove families to economic hardship. The NMHS reported that mental health disorders disproportionately affect households with lower income, less education, and lower employment. These vulnerable groups are faced with financial limitations due to their socioeconomic conditions, made worse by the limited resources available for treatment. Lack of State services and insurance coverage results in most expenses on treatment — when sought — being out-of-pocket expenses, thus worsening the economic strain on the poor and vulnerable.
What we need is a paradigm shift in attitudes and approaches . . . from viewing persons with disabilities as ‘objects’ of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing [them] as ‘subjects’ with rights, who are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society. A rights-based approach to mental disability needs to be informed by a clear analysis of the multiple levels of inequality and discrimination that exist about individuals with mental disabilities both within and outside the health system. Further, legislative reforms to enforce equality of opportunity, access, and participation in all aspects of life along with Mental health and social services reform for equitable funding for resources, infrastructure, and program development are needed to improve the access to healthcare services in our country for all conditions. We feel that with governments coming forward to stand up for the rights of people with mental abilities, it will give others more power and financial freedom to talk freely about their issues.
By
Prabhleen
Greenpeace India Volunteer