Help, do not judge

Dr Samir Parikh

There has been a significant increase in the awareness and information about mental health, especially with the growing exposure to the various media platforms. However, a large section of the population is still shrouded in misconceptions related to mental illnesses as well as its associated factors. In fact, even in this age of information, there are many myths and misconceptions related to mental health which are deeply embedded in people’s mind. 

We, as a society, need to overcome this bias and adopt some simple things in our daily lives to help break this stigma associated with mental health problems. 

Don’t look for whom to blame: It is vital for all of us to understand and be aware that mental illnesses are not a sign of weakness or character deficit. On the contrary, mental illnesses are well-recognised medical illnesses, which require adequate and timely professional intervention. It can include a combination of psychiatric medications (not always though) as well as psychological counselling to help the individual in distress alleviation as well as resuming functionality across personal, social as well as occupational spheres.

Be a support system: It is extremely important to establish a strong network of support, be it at home, with peers or at the workplace in today’s world, given the technological invasion in our lives. Therefore, if you observe someone around you who is feeling low or stressed, as a concerned adult it is important for you to assume responsibility, and help the person cope with the situation in a better manner.

Provide empathy and a listening ear: Besides being a source of support, it would be beneficial if you could help the individual to reach out to seek help of a professional mental health expert for adequate interventions. In fact, if you are able to talk to the person about his/her feelings, you can help him/her in coping with the situation by taking a solution-oriented approach, and reaching out to the existing support mechanisms. Give the person a chance to express him/herself. Do not interrogate or form judgements. Only convey your genuine concern and support.

Do not advise to simply exert willpower to overcome mental problems: As with other medical illnesses, the role of professional help is irreplaceable. For instance, depression, which is one of the most common psychiatric problem, is a medical illness which is caused by an imbalance in the levels neurotransmitters in the brain, for example serotonin which has been implicated in mental illnesses like anxiety as well as depression. Therefore, one cannot just snap out of depression. The role of professional treatment, including both psychiatric medications as well as psychological therapies, is essential for the treatment of depression. In fact, if left untreated over a prolonged period of time, there are greater chances of the individual feeling more helpless and hopeless and might also lead to suicidal tendencies.

Help people understand that recovery is possible: Even though a variety of mental disorders need treatment for a long time, could be life-long, but with early identification and adequate and timely intervention, in case of most disorders an individual can be treated and lead a happy and healthier life and  have a healthy level of functioning.

Improve levels of self-awareness: One of the most important things is connecting to your own self. Though this might actually seem like the most cost-effective and simplest option, it is often the most neglected. For a person to be able to recognise his or her own uniqueness, it is of utmost importance that he or she be self-aware. Therefore, we need to work on understanding our own self, and paying attention to our inner experiences. Often, we tend to rely excessively on others’ approval about ourselves. However, we need to remember that no one else can know about our life and our experiences better than our own self. Therefore, we are the best judge of ourselves and we need to be able to trust our own objective evaluation of our own abilities.

Talk to them: This is one of the easiest and most important point to be kept in mind. We should not hesitate to initiate the conversation about mental health, as it is important to give each person a chance to express their feelings and release their pent-up emotions. It is a myth that talking about the problem aggravates the situation. In fact, giving them a chance to vent out their feelings and emotions is more likely to help the person lighten the burden by being able to share it with someone who is concerned.

Encourage help-seeking behaviour: Do not hesitate to reach out for help. It is important to encourage a person who is in distress to seek the support of mental health experts to ensure adequate interventions and prevent adverse outcomes.

With little empathy and understanding, we can reach out to those who need help and emotional support. 

— The writer is a consultant psychiatrist with Fortis Healthcare and director, Fortis National Mental Health Programme