Mental health in an unequal world

by Sreenija Marri

This is the theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day which is celebrated on October 10 every year. United Nations gave the slogan “Mental Health care for all: let’s make it a reality”.

The slogan shows the global need for a proper mental health care system. It also acknowledges that access to mental well-being tools is still a dream for many. The primary aim of celebrating mental health day is to spread awareness on mental stability issues. With the increase in population, the need for mental health professionals is also on the rise.

It is not surprising that mental disorders like depression and anxiety across all age groups are on a high. The need to do something about them has become paramount. When we talk about mental stability we not only talk about disorders and mental illnesses but we also focus on how we can handle the problems like everyday work-related stress and worry.

The pandemic has emphasized the need for mental health resources. Still, there are some topics that we need to pay heed to. Which we focused on.

Words that we need to understand when it comes to mental health resources are-

Stigma

Mental health is probably one of the most used terms during the pandemic. People began to understand the importance of having good mental stability. Still, we see that people attach a lot of stigma around the term mental stability and why is that? People seeking help are viewed as unstable, unreliable and are often alienated from the group. People still find it hard to accept mental health issues mainly because it as a concept is hard to understand.

Accessibility

The need for mental balance resources rose drastically in recent times. It also paved a path for a new avenue through which these resources could be accessed- online counselling. Online counselling made it accessible for people to get in touch with mental health professionals. It provided a safe spot from where people could seek professional help. All from the comforts of their homes.

Affordability

Many people are reluctant to take professional help because they think it is expensive. Pandemic has given rise to many mental hygiene professionals who are providing their services at very nominal cost. Online counselling is also a great source of getting professional help at an affordable cost. Moreover, some clinics offer counselling services free of cost for the needy.

Acceptability

People need to accept that there is a need for mental well-being resources. Just how we need medical practitioners to oversee our physical well-being. We also need psychologists and counsellors for our mental well-being. We need to accept the fact that there is a need for such professionals who could help us with our problems.

Times are hard. We have to accept that sometimes we cannot handle everything by ourselves. Take help when those times arise. Do not worry about what others will say or think. Focus on what is best for you.