Mental Health during Covid
One of the most overlooked issues arising from the pandemic and an extended lockdown has been the increased strain on an already deteriorating mental health.
14% of Indians suffer from a mental health disorder.
However, our society treats it as a taboo. Consequently, we have 0.3 psychiatrists for every 100,000 people in our country.
This problem has escalated during the lockdown. Thousands have lost their loved ones and hundreds of thousands of Indians have lost their jobs. To add to it all, lockdown fatigue is setting in as people suffer from social disconnection. Unfortunately, there have been multiple high profile suicides over the last few months that are all over the media which has led to an increased stress on mental health.
According to a research by the US National Library of Medicine, as many as 60% Indians have suffered at least one form of mental health issue during the lockdown. However, a study by the World Economic Forum, only 1 in 10 Indians suffering from mental health issues seek help.
This needs to change. As responsible citizens, we need to talk about mental health and spread awareness around it. If you or someone around you is going through it, make sure you talk about it and get help before the issue escalates.
From a policy making perspective, the government should make it mandatory for medical insurance companies to cover mental health as a part of their policies.
According to a renowned Mumbai based therapist — “It squeezes out all the positivity and energy from a person. It is like a deep dark pit that sucks you in. It helps if you talk about it to people around you and have faith that although it seems extremely difficult in the moment, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
The law of averages will hold true. A golden period for our country lies ahead of us. For now, let us battle Covid and anxiety monsters the only way it is possible — “together as a nation”.
Online professional therapy sessions available online: www.betterlyf.com, www.betterhelp.com, www.regain.com
