The The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a global catastrophe that no country was prepared for, least of all India. Shutdowns, rising unemployment, loss of housing, overburdened medical infrastructure, and a dearth of proven strategies to curb this pandemic, among other disruptions, have had a significant impact on all aspects of human life across the globe. country.
However, the deteriorating mental health of the population is a somewhat less discussed impact of this pandemic, and to truly understand its magnitude, one has to accept its existence before the COVID-19 outbreak.
A national survey of mental health revealed that approximately 10 percent of adults show symptoms of mental health conditions ranging from anxiety-related illnesses to severe mental trauma.
The Global Burden of Disease Study, a comprehensive global and regional burden of disease research program that assesses mortality and disability from major diseases, injuries and risk factors, found that nearly 200 million Indians have suffered from some type of mental disorder.
Nearly 50 percent of whom experience anxiety or depressive symptoms. And, India is also home to a third of global women who die by suicide and a large LGBTQIA+ community with a suicide rate of up to 31 percent in specific geographies.
During a prolonged and unprecedented event like COVID-19, several people felt the need to resort to certain unhealthy patterns to deal with their repressed emotions, negatively affecting their mental health and the dynamics of their relationships. Furthermore, it also altered the way we view mental health in general.
The pandemic was found to have affected specific groups in society in terms of their psychological well-being. Two of them stand out, the first being women and the other the LGBTQIA+ community.
Studies claim that an increasing number of women experienced depression and anxiety during the pandemic due to the increased volume of housework and frequent cases of domestic violence.
More cases of anxiety, sleep deprivation, and loss of appetite were reported in the LGBTQIA+ community during COVID-19 due to a lack of sensible policies and marginalization, among other causes.
India’s emerging holistic wellness services industry has paid close attention to the groups mentioned above, studied their requirements, and now offers several solutions that significantly improve emotional well-being. Some of India’s leading holistic wellness service providers have also gone the extra mile by launching inclusive mental health care platforms for women and LGBTQIA+ people.
These online platforms aim to provide a safe haven for people in stress related to COVID-19, ensuring the utmost confidentiality and private counseling sessions with experienced medical professionals.
Let us now delve into the importance and advantages of online mental health platforms for women and sexual minorities.
Gender plays a crucial role in determining mental health and well-being. Women are more susceptible to mental disorders than men due to the overwhelming social pressures they have to endure on a daily basis.
Patterns of psychological distress are also very different for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, etc., so there is a pressing need for a focused and streamlined approach to treating each condition differently.
Several of India’s leading online health platforms are now fully committed to adopting a gender-based perspective of mental health care. Mental health experts on dedicated online platforms specialize in treating a wide range of psychological disorders experienced by women and LGBTQIA+ people, operating with a strong emphasis on privacy and gender sensitivity.
Advantages of online mental health platforms
1. Greater accessibility
One of the many benefits of the Internet is that this medium makes mental health care more accessible and accessible. People are generally more comfortable talking to family and close friends about their physical well-being, but they may not show the same kind of openness to talking about deep-seated mental health fears.
Easy online access to highly skilled and emotionally sensitive health professionals empowers people to overcome the stigma associated with addressing mental health issues.
2. Affordability and convenience:
Online therapy is often relatively inexpensive and convenient, allowing you to see mental health specialists at the touch of a button from the comfort of your space.
In addition, consultations are often scheduled based on your convenience and availability. Online treatment also tends to result in less overhead for healthcare service providers, allowing them to offer a flexible and highly affordable line of treatment.
3. Wide range of therapists
Online mental health platforms do not restrict you to a particular geographic radius, allowing you to connect with licensed physicians from across the country or the world.
Furthermore, such Internet-powered ecosystems allow users to find the expert that best aligns with their requirements, which is an effective option to have at their disposal.
Additionally, users can expect ongoing technical and emotional support from the mental health professional of their choice in the form of text messages or chats. This long-term, interactive care is highly beneficial for people who need frequent assistance while dealing with severe symptoms of depression or anxiety.
final thoughts
Online mental health care platforms are ecosystems that provide us with a way of realizing effective therapy that is time-saving, convenient and easily affordable. It is also a facilitator of professional help available virtually any time of the day from your smartphone or computer without being limited by geographical boundaries.
With our lives becoming more digital, more people in need are expected to use it regularly soon.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)
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