World Mental Health Day 2024

Dr (Prof) N Heramani HOD, Dr Chaoba AP, Dr Meesha SR, Dr Nomita CP
World Mental Health Day was established on October 10, 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health.
Since then, it has been observed every year with the aim of raising awareness in the global community about critical mental health agendas through collaboration with various partners to take action and create lasting change. By Mental health, we mean a state of mental well- being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
It is an integral component of health and well being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationship and shape the world we live in.
Mental health conditions include mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities as well as other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning or risk of self-harm.
Many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, yet health systems remain significantly under- resourced and treatment gaps are wide all over the world. People with mental health conditions often also experience stigma, discrimination and human rights violations.
GLOBAL BURDEN OF MENTAL HEALTH:
A) 1 in 8 people in the world live with a mental
disorder.
B) Anxiety affects 284 million people in the world.
C) Depression affects 264 million people.
D) Suicide accounts for more than one in every 100
deaths.
E) Alcohol use affects 107 million people.
F) 52.4% of people with mental disorders are female.
G) 71% of people with psychosis do not receive mental health services.
H) Mental disorders are the leading cause of years lived with disability.
This year theme: ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.’
Gone are the days when work and mental health existed in separate bubbles. Workplace stress has hit an all-time high in recent years. Whether it is grappling with post pandemic adjustment, rising economic pressures or the relentless pace of modern work, employees everywhere are feeling the weight. Mental health can no longer be confined to personal lives—it affects job performance, creativity, overall life satisfaction.
Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work. Lack of support for people with mental health conditions can negatively impact their self confidence, enjoyment at work, capacity to work, absences and ability to gain employment. Depression and anxiety alone result in the loss of approximately 12 billion workdays each year.
Mental health interventions should be delivered as a part of an integrated health services system at the workplace. The workplace well-being strategy should cover prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment and also provide support to improve adherence and rehabilitation. Initiatives such as flexible hours, job redesign, addressing negative workplace dynamics, provision of essential resources and a supportive environment can benefit workers with mental disorders. Regular screening programs can also be held to diagnose and treat mental health disorders at the earliest. Moreover because of the stigma associated with mental disorders, employers need to ensure that a strong support system is in place, confidentiality is maintained and individuals feel comfortable and are able to ask for support when required.
MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
It refers to societal disapproval or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness. People with mental illness can be viewed in a negative way, treated differently and made to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their mental illness. They are commonly assumed to be lazy, weak, unintelligent. A person who is stigmatized may be treated differently, excluded from many things and may be labelled because of their illness, making them more likely to face discrimination. This increases the feelings of isolation and make mental illness worse.
According to Mental Health Foundation, nearly 9 out of 10 people with a mental illness feel stigma and discrimination. Many people say dealing with stigma and discrimination is harder than dealing with mental illness itself. Stigma happens from a lack of understanding of mental illness, through ignorance and misinformation. It can also happen because some people have negative attitudes towards mental illness. Stigma even extends to working in mental health care and can contribute to staff shortage in mental health systems.
Some tips to deal with stigma
1) Don’t avoid getting treatment – don’t let your fear of being labeled or discriminated against stop you from seeking help and treatment.
2) Don’t believe that you are your illness.
3) Don’t take it personally – most discrimination comes from people who don’t understand or have little or no experience of mental illness.
4) Use facts – mental illness is common and is not a sign of weakness. Learn some useful facts and figures and tell people about it.
5) Stand up to negative stereotypes and misinformation.
6) Tell your story(if you want) – speaking out can have a positive impact, especially if it means, you stop feeling ashamed when it comes to your mental illness.
7) Join a support group – it can be useful to meet others in the same situation.
Everyone can help reduce mental illness stigma by taking action, getting educated. People living with mental illness should be respected and accepted. They deserve the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
TAKING CARE OF MENTAL HEALTH
Self care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. This can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness and increase your energy. If you have any mental health-related corcerns, seek treatment from a Psychiatrist. There are many treatment and support options available to help people experiencing mental health conditions. Treatment can help a person’s condition to improve or help a person to live well, despite the presence of some ongoing symptoms. Here are few tips we can follow to keep our mental health in a good condition.
1. Get regular exercise: just 30 mins of walking everyday can boost your mood and improve your health.
2. Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated.
3. Make sleep a priority: stick to a schedule and make sure you are getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to sleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
4. Practice gratitude: remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Write down at night or replay them in your mind
5. Focus on positivity.
6. Try a relaxing activity: incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation and breathing exercise in your daily routine.
7. Allocate time for working and time for resting.
8. Make time for doing things you enjoy.
9. Stay connected: reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.
10. Pay attention to the present moment (mindful-ness) The writers are from the Dept. of Psychiatry, Shija Academy of Health Sciences.