By Esha Chaudhuri
Each year, as we approach October 10, conversations about the seriousness of mental wellbeing and coping mechanisms take center stage. This year is no different, but of course with its nuances. On October 10, the official designation of World Mental Health Day, marking its celebration, sets a new trajectory, exacerbated by the journey in and out of the pandemic. Sunday Shillong therefore engages with mental health professionals to introduce its readers to the importance of mental wellness taking priority, which might otherwise go unnoticed.
Mental block
In recent data shared by the GOI’s National Mental Health Program (NMHP), it is estimated that 
that 6-7% of the population suffer from mental disorders and more than 90% do not receive treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the burden of mental health problems in India to be 2,443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population; the age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 population is 21.1.
“The pandemic, the lockdown and its lifting have highlighted the obvious deficit in our mental health care system. The mental health problems that everyone is talking about are not new. It is that now they are more visible since the pandemic has been able to reduce the stigma and highlight the fact that it is not the other who is mentally ill but me and mine too. With the lifting of the lockdown, mental health professionals around the world are dealing with the increase in the number of new cases and the exacerbation of pre-existing mental illnesses.” highlights Dr. Sandy Syiem, Director of SAN-KER.
“While people were already dealing with pre-existing issues, the pandemic-induced lockdown made people go crazy. However, going back to ‘normal’ made it even worse with the peak in April 2022, as we saw an increase in counseling cases with a shortage of mental health professionals,” explains Lorina Richmond Basaiawmoit, psychotherapist and counselor at the Childrens Hospital.
Reflecting on this, psychology teacher at Greenwood High, Bengaluru, Cynthia War says: “I feel like the pandemic didn’t trigger mental health issues, but definitely exacerbated them. People were forced to face their problems instead of hiding from them. She also brought out the need to take care of oneself.”
By presenting figures, Syiem draws attention to the dire situation regarding mental health in the country. He says: “The mental health workforce in India is extremely low: there are 0.3 psychiatrists, 0.12 nurses, 0.07 psychologists and 0.07 social workers per 100,000 population. The treatment gap, defined as the prevalence of mental illness and the proportion of patients receiving treatment, exceeds 70%. The 2016 National Mental Health Survey found that 10.6% of the population at the time suffered from a diagnosable mental illness and studies show there has been a 20% increase in mental health morbidity after the pandemic and the confinement. And to serve this demographic, India has fewer than 4,000 mental health professionals!”
the same but different
Time and time again, the emphasis placed on timely diagnosis and treatment by professionals is paramount. However, although mental health problems vary, given the plethora of existential issues 
realities can be subjective even in terms of the therapy received. As Richmond puts it, “We can’t generalize about mental health issues, as there are so many factors, such as demographics, age, gender, life experiences, cultural background, and each goes their own way.”
Delving into the various circumstances and challenges facing different age groups, Basaiawmoit adds: “Preschoolers and toddlers lost their developmental ears and with the sudden opening of schools, they went from diapers to 4 years, experience reluctance, anxiety and social withdrawal to assume this new way of life. With older adolescents, there was generalized anxiety, panic, and paranoia regarding academic performance and peer pressure. For young adults and beyond, there were many life-changing decisions and experiences with COVID-19 taking over our lives and the many adjustments with it.”
Basaiawmoit further explains: “The impact of COVID-19 has been so specific as some lost loved ones, who need long-term care, while for others it was the lockdown.”
The social taboo and flippant use of terms like ‘crazy’, ‘mental’, ‘insane’ can be discouraging for those experiencing mental agony and emotional distress.
“I think the stigma around mental health remains a major factor in thwarting progress. We still need to raise awareness and raise awareness about mental health and the importance of getting help.” think War.
The intervention then becomes a specific case with modulations of particular cases, but making the theme of defense, raising awareness, uniform.
way to go
As we slowly recover from the grip of the pandemic, the All India Aspirations Index found through a survey that the country’s aspirations lean towards mental well-being and happiness with a score of 87.3, reaching its highest level since the start of this study in 2018, when it was 87.4.
While there is a broad understanding that there is a long way to go before finding a stable footing with regard to health seeking and access, but more importantly, there is also a common consensus that there is a need for a government intervention.
“There are projects underway, but the pandemic has taught us that it is necessary to restructure them and develop strategies based on the needs of the people that the locals understand in their language,” Basaiawmoit urges.
Highlighting the importance of a sensitized community, Basaiawmoit further adds: “We cannot wait for the government to act, we as a family and a society must act responsibly because there must be consistency throughout the year with wider access to care. “.
As War summarizes, “I think there is still more that government can do in terms of bringing about a change in the way we deal with mental health. I think we are going in that direction. (I wish)”
With a vision of constructive change, Syiem states: “There is a lot of noise and hype around this time and conveniently forgotten for the rest of the year. This year let us remember the 52% of our children who admit to being sexually abused, our young women and homemakers who have to resort to suicide each year, and the elderly with their unique mental health issues. Let’s not point the finger that they are the ones who use mental health services and understand that somewhere it could be me. Let’s ask our elected representatives to think and talk about these issues in private and in public and ask our bureaucrats to lead by example.”
While conversations about mental health, its prioritization, and its different qualification have begun, there are clearly many miles to go before reaching level ground for recess.
