Over time, the knowledge that health and the environment are inextricably linked has grown stronger. Humans are an essential component of the earth’s ecosystem, which is described as the interaction of humans with their social, biological, physical, and chemical surroundings.
Mental health is something that all of us are concerned about.Even the wealthiest countries, the wealthiest people, and the wealthiest families face mental health issues and the pain that comes with depression, suicide, and substance misuse. In and of itself, reducing mental health issues and suffering is critical and we need a change in the culture so that we can dream of a society, which is safer and more accepting towards the ones suffering.
“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversations.”
Addressing the same issue, we at Orion square are regularly hosting VONG Café conversations, under the VONG (Voice of the New Generation) movement. These conversations help the younger generation to get equipped with an understanding of the issues around us and work for a sustainable future. Orion square organized one such conversation as a digital live event named, ‘Mental Health and Sustainable Development’ through its VONG movement.
The event was successfully carried out by a well experienced host and two incredible mental health professionals as the guest speakers.
The guest speakers:
RASMI RAFI – Budding Psychologist, Debater & Photographer
SHABNAM B – Budding Psychologist, Reader & Writer
The discussion was a series of questions backed up by enriching answers from both speakers.
Following is a summary of the conversation on “What is Mental Health?”
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. The relevance of mental health in most, if not all, of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is highlighted in this article.In and of itself, reducing mental health issues and suffering is critical. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental health was included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. The United Nations took a historic step by acknowledging the global burden of mental illness and designating mental health as a priority for global development for the next 15 years.
“There are still so many people who are suffering in silence. And there’s still this stigma attached to mental health which we’ve got to completely obliterate.”
Mental health has been declared as the essential component of overall human wellbeing. However, there has been a very steep rate of depression and anxiety in students that exhibit their social and personal burdens. It has been widely accepted that the wellbeing and mental health of individuals are a mix of psychological, genetic, social, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposure.
Due to the pandemic, the shift from traditional classroom learning to e-learning has also disturbed the mental health of students, which consequently affects environmental stability. The current study has also measured the effect on the mental health of e-learning behaviours (psychological motivation, peer collaboration, cognitive problem-solving, interaction with the instructor, community support, and learning management).
What is social media’s part in mental health issues?
Social media has a reinforcing nature. Using it activates the brain’s reward center by releasing dopamine, a “feel-good chemical” linked to pleasurable activities such as sex, food, and social interaction. At its core, social media is a powerful communication tool that has changed how individuals interact with one another. It speeds up how people exchange and share information, thoughts, and ideas across virtual networks. However, social media does have downsides.
Some evidence suggests that its use — in particular, its overuse — can negatively affect mental health in numerous ways. The earlier teens start using social media, the greater impact the platforms have on mental health. This is especially true for females. While teen males tend to express aggression physically, females do so relationally by excluding others and sharing hurtful comments. Social media increases the opportunity for such harmful interactions.
According to the Pew Research Centre, 69% of adults and 81% of teens use social media. This puts a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious, depressed, or ill over their social media use.
Many people in today’s world live with their smartphones as virtual companions. Unregulated social media leads to a constant fear of missing out, which many refer to as FOMO. People may feel as though others are having more fun than them, which can affect self-esteem and cause mental health issues. One of the downsides of social media platforms is that they give individuals the opportunity to start or spread harmful rumours and use abusive words that can leave people with lasting emotional scars.
How important is mental health and how much is India suffering from mental health issues?
Mental health is more important now than ever before; it impacts every area of our lives. The importance of good mental health ripples into everything we do, think, or say. Maintaining a positive mental health and treating any mental health conditions is crucial to stabilizing constructive behaviours, emotions, and thoughts.
Focusing on mental health care can increase productivity, enhance our self-image, and improve relationships. Nurturing mental health doesn’t just improve our daily functioning, but it can also help us control — or at least combat — some of the physical health problems directly linked to mental health conditions. Beyond everything else we’ve already discussed, being mentally healthy can significantly impact our psychological, emotional, and social well-being.
According to the numbers, 56 million Indians suffer from depression and another 38 million Indians suffer from anxiety disorders. India also accounts for 36.6 per cent of suicides globally, and that suicide has surpassed maternal mortality as the leading cause of death among women and teenage girls aged 15-19 years?
In India, having a mental health disorder is perceived with a sense of judgement and there is stigma associated with those having mental health issues. Mental disorders are also considered as being a consequence of a lack of self-discipline and willpower. The stigma associated with mental health as well as lack of access, affordability, and awareness lead to significant gaps in treatment.
How to overcome disturbing or negative thoughts?
Treating your thought processes isn’t as easy or prescriptive. Especially if they stem from general anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition. Negative thought patterns are like a paper cut you keep getting when you have only a vague idea of what’s causing it. Or maybe you don’t notice the cut at all… until it starts to sting.
Each person, depending on their condition and triggers, will require different approaches to medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes. And when therapy is out of reach, it can be difficult to get fast treatment. Shifting the way you think means you’re consciously stopping an established thought pattern. You re-evaluate how you reflect on a situation, or even what you think about, to focus on something else.
It’s like switching gears in your brain so your train of thought isn’t just looping and re-looping. In a lot of ways, this is about undoing a lot of negative behaviours and mental programming you may have learned from others.
For example, if you grew up thinking you had to be the best in school and life, you’re likely programmed for stressful perfectionism. Making a mental shift is a way to combat your anxiety and stress, or snap out of winding thoughts. Learning the most common thought patterns, how to recognize automatic negative thinking, and ways to reorient and give yourself the kind and constructive consideration one needs is one way.
Is there any approach, a movement or a protest or a campaign that can change the mental health?
Poverty, marginalization, violence, complex catastrophes, and human rights violations all pose a threat to human development and long-term economic growth, and they provide a critical background for global mental health.For the first time, mental health is expressly included in globally agreed-upon goals, opening up the possibility of improving mental health and well-being across countries and professional disciplines.
Care for people with mental illness and psychosocial disabilities, as well as resilience and mental health promotion in general, must be prioritised in order to effectively utilise this opportunity.
The SDGs’ universality, rather than being limited to disadvantaged countries, is a novel feature. Similarly, mental health is something that all of us are concerned about. Even the wealthiest countries, the wealthiest people, and the wealthiest families face mental health issues and the pain that comes with depression, suicide, and substance misuse.
Another notable feature of the SDGs is that they are multi-sectorial, implying that progress and innovation in one sector will have an impact on others. In addition, achieving the objectives will necessitate collaboration across industries and specialties. Similarly, achieving the aims of improving everyone’s mental health and well-being, as well as providing adequate and dignified care for those in need, necessitates multidisciplinary collaboration.
CONCLUSION
We at Orion square are constantly talking about such issues related to Mental Health and its importance in our society. We tend to nurture conceous minds and influence change through this platform.
We believe that the change lies in the hands of the youth and the future is at their stake. We are not only working for a better present but aim at leaving behind a better place to live in for our successors.
Article by: Parinati Gaur – VONGle, Orion Square
Excellent write up . Keep up .