By-Priya Jain
“Mental health is the foundation of every person’s ability to live a fulfilling life, and it should be upheld as a fundamental human right.” -Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Good Mental Health is an essential part of our overall well-being and people are realising its importance with every passing day. A healthy mind helps people to learn well in life, deal with their stresses in a positive way, work well towards their goals, and contribute to their community as well. No doubt, Mental health is a fundamental human right that contributes to personal, community, and socio-economic development.
Many people think that mental health should only be taken into consideration when there is the presence of any severe disease. But Doctors suggest that as soon as you realise and accept that you are facing a lower level of mental well-being, you should visit your counsellor. This would not only help you to decrease your suffering but also reduce the risk of getting into the trap of severe mental health conditions.
According to the research, 80% of the Indian population is suffering from mental health disorders and there is no surprise in stating nearly 14% of India’s population required active therapeutic interventions, according to the National Mental Health Survey conducted by NIMHANS in 2016. As per the data, about 70% to 80% of persons in India struggling with mental illness receive no care. According to the survey, only one out of every ten people in India suffering mental health issues get evidence-based treatment.
Now the question arises “If the mental health of people is in this severe state then why don’t people take care of it?”
India is known for its vast and diverse population, where people experience several mental health challenges because of never-ending social, economic, and cultural factors. Before addressing any mental health issue it is important for society to be aware of their mental health and recognize if they are having any mental illness.
Not only mental illness, our soundness of mind is also associated with psychosocial disability, distress, impairment in suffering, and also self-harm activities. When someone is unable to work with their fullest potential that could also be a sign to see a counsellor.
Challenges to Practice Mental Health as a Fundamental Right:
- Stigma: The most significant barrier surrounding mental health is stigmatisation. Most of the people who face any mental illness find it hard to express and ask for help. This mindset of people that suffering through bad mental health is a matter of shame is worsening their condition and also suppressing the need to practise their fundamental rights.
- Limited Access: In various parts of the world, there are no mental health services or any awareness about it. This is becoming a serious concern for the small villages as this is costing their lives.
- Inequality: Various inequalities such as gender discrimination, refugees, minorities, and people with disabilities, in general, are more prone to face additional barriers to accessing mental health care. Discrimination and inequality exacerbate their mental health struggles.
- People are unaware of mental health and their rights: There are many people who are suffering from mental health illness but are entirely unaware of their conditions and the majors to deal with it.
How To Spread Awareness about Mental Health Issues?
One of the biggest challenges that we need to overcome is making people aware of their own mental health. If we look back a few decades ago, then we could find that people barely even considered mental health into their “healthy is wealthy” mindset, for them health was all about physical wellbeing. But now not only the doctors but the government is also spreading awareness and teaching people about the importance of taking care of their mental health. Here are several effective ways to raise awareness about mental health:
Educational Workshops and Seminars- These seminars should focus on spreading awareness about what mental health is, how we can take care of it, whom to ask for help and most importantly telling them that it’s okay to ask for help.
Public Awareness Campaigns- The real stories and engaging way of telling them is the basic key to successful campaigns. Utilising social media platforms (Use hashtags like #MentalHealthMatters to increase visibility), posters, flyers, and street theatre performances could be a great way to reach a wide audience.
Organising Events – Just like the Mental Health Foundation (India) initiates Mental Health Festival every year to spread awareness among people as well as mental health practitioners about Mental health with fun activities, could be followed by other organisations too. These events can include activities like yoga sessions, stress management workshops, or panel discussions with experts.
Inviting Guest Speakers and Celebrities- People are following various influencers and celebrities wholeheartedly these days, and inviting them to talk about their personal experiences of mental health journey could be a good source of reach.
Mental health screening programs- Encourage regular mental health check-ups and screenings in healthcare settings, schools, and workplaces. Make sure individuals have access to professionals who can assess their mental well-being.
Policy Reform- Governments must prioritise mental health by allocating sufficient resources to mental health services, implementing mental health policies, and integrating mental health care into primary health care systems.
With all the above-mentioned strategies, the government is also contributing to the healthcare sector of mental health. By coming up with free counselling and providing affordable mental health checkups at government hospitals, building separate set-ups of mental health, and launching mental health policies. Attempts are being made on the global level to spread awareness about Mental health.
On a Final Note:
Mental health is not a privilege but a fundamental human right that deserves equal attention and protection as physical health. It has become highly crucial to recognize and promote mental health as a fundamental right for a healthier and more equitable society.
We have already discussed how people are unaware of mental health issues that they face during their lifetime and those who are aware lack the courage to accept it due to social stigma. It’s our responsibility as citizens to make people more and more aware of Mental well-being and also break the stigma by promoting “ it’s okay to ask for help”. It requires policy reforms, education, and a collective effort to eliminate this stigma surrounding mental health issues. By embracing mental health as a fundamental right, we can pave the way for a future where everyone has the opportunity to live a mentally healthy and fulfilling life. Concluding this article with a famous quote:
“Mental health…is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” — Noam Shpancer
References of Research:
● https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/mental-health-care-analysis/