World Mental Health Day: Experts urge open talk and early help amid rising stress and anxiety
On World Mental Health Day, the focus is on awareness, ending stigma and seeking timely help as stress, anxiety and depression rise.
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People around the world come together every year on October 10 to mark World Mental Health Day. The day is a reminder that mental health is as important as physical health. Its aim is to raise awareness, clear up misconceptions about mental health and encourage people to seek help without hesitation.
Stress, anxiety and depression are rising on a large scale in today's hectic lives. Taking care of one's mind has never been more important.
Mental health covers our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and behave in everyday life. On the occasion, a balanced lifestyle was advocated: eat nutritious food, get enough sleep and stay physically active.
Mental health is not merely one person's private problem; it is an issue for the whole of society. Workplaces, schools and communities should create an environment where mental health is valued and people are supported. It was pointed out that employers can promote a balance between work and personal life, while schools can start mental health programmes to help students cope with academic and emotional stress.
Despite growing awareness, the stigma attached to mental health remains one of the biggest barriers to treatment. Fearing what others will think, many people shy away from talking about their problems. It has been said that it is time to change this. Speaking openly about mental health makes discussion of the subject commonplace and gives others the courage to share their experiences. Kindness, understanding and empathy are the first steps towards building a community that supports one another.
People have also been advised to take breaks from social media now and then and focus on real-life conversations. Those who feel overwhelmed can approach a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist. Therapy, it has been said, can help in recovery and in regaining balance.
According to naturopathy expert Dr Bhimrao Ganveer, mental illness has taken hold in the lives of many people today. He said stress at home and excessive use of social media are the main causes of mental illness. Dr Ganveer said it must be treated in time, or the illness worsens and becomes serious.
