World Mental Health Day 2024: Towards a holistic understanding of mental health upsc current affairs news


,Indian Express UPSC has launched a new series of articles for aspirants written by experienced writers and scholars on issues and concepts like History, Politics, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology etc. Read and discuss with subject experts and increase your chances of cracking the coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Reema Ahmed, Mental Space Psychologist, Discusses the importance of a holistic understanding of mental health.)

How healthy or sick we are, physically or mentally, depends on a complex of visible and invisible factors. World Mental Health Day, celebrated every year on 10 October, draws our attention to the importance of mental well-being. Established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health, the day aims to raise awareness, address misconceptions and garner support for mental well-being.

Ancient Myths About Mental Illness

There was a time in ancient human history when the symptoms of mental illnesses in various cultures were misinterpreted as being caused by demonic possession, magic spells and witchcraft as well as divine wrath. Treatments in the Neolithic Age ranged from mystical to cruel practices such as incantations, potions, prayers as well as imprisonment, chaining, trephining or worse.

Evidence of a deep understanding of mental health first appeared in records left by the ancient Egyptians, Persians, Arabs, Chinese, and Indians from about 1500 to 500 BC. These describe mental health issues as 'diseases of the soul' and suggest treatments such as fresh air, movement, music and painting.

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Remedies are described in the sections of the Vedas. medicine (Medicine), yam And Rule (behavior control), Posture And Pranayama (Physical activities) for conditions such as psychosis, epilepsy, sleep disorders and aggression. The world's first mental hospital was established in Baghdad in 792 AD. Apparently it took time for the rest of the world to understand.

institutional mental health

The European world has had the greatest influence on modern psychiatric treatment and psychology. It has gone through its journey of understanding mental illness over the centuries. From ancient beliefs of supernatural wrath to the theory of imbalance in the four 'humors' promoted by the Greek thinkers Socrates and Galen, who advocated treatments as diverse as cupping, blood-letting, leeching and enemas, to the widespread establishment of mental hospitals 14th In the century since, our understanding of mental health has been changing.

Historically speaking, the stigma surrounding mental health conversations dates back to the European Middle Ages. Establishment of the first mental hospital in India in the mid and late 18thth Shatabdi came after the arrival of the British. Initially these refuges were only for Europeans but later they started accepting Indians.

Cultural shift from adopting a more spiritual approach to mental illness by seeking divine intervention This idea of ​​madness that was to be punished or isolated is probably an offshoot of colonialism in India.

Impact of Freud's psychoanalysis on modern medicine

However, in the 20th century, the work of Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, created a wave with the introduction of psychoanalysis and talk therapy, which became the basis of many modern treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Attention to Freud's work led to other developments such as psychosurgery, electroconvulsive therapy and psychopharmacology across the world, including pre- and post-colonial India. These developments were based on the biological model of mental illness where biochemical imbalances are seen as the cause of mental illness.

As groundbreaking as these new treatments were, they are linked to the horrific history of forced psychiatry (such as lobotomy) and the unscrupulous use of shock treatment in clinics and asylums, especially on women who were seen as 'problematic'. This painful history of forced admissions and treatments disregarding patients' comfort or consent still reflects the fear that explains our hesitation and anxiety in going to a psychiatrist or counselor even today.

Medication and mental health care

The introduction of drugs like Lithium, Valium, and Prozac in the early, mid, and late 20sth The century completely changed the landscape of mental health treatment. These drugs made previously uncontrollable conditions such as psychosis and schizophrenia manageable, significantly reducing the need for inhumane treatment or asylum.

At the same time, this shift reduced mental health to a view where a pill could fix issues and larger social, cultural, and family units could absolve themselves of the responsibility of creating better environments. Over time, especially in countries like India where the pharmaceutical industry is largely unregulated and drugs are often readily available at cost, It also created complex problems such as drug abuse, over-prescription and addiction, which were made worse by the global boom in pharmaceutical industries.

Mental health, illnesses and evolving attitudes

The predominantly Western clinical approach to mental health globally relies heavily on labels inducing diagnosis and symptomatic medication, leading one to believe that mental health is somehow dependent on our brain and There is a closed space in the body – like an organ that needs to function well for us. To be healthy. Although this is true of some situations, it is not the entire truth.

According to the World Health Organization, “Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their potential, learn and work well, and contribute to their communities . It is an integral part of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, form relationships, and shape the world in which we live. Mental health is a basic human right. And this is important for individual, community and socio-economic development.”

Thus, an evolving holistic approach towards mental health can further open up our understanding. It explains health in general and mental health in particular as the intersection of many visible and invisible factors.

According to this view, mental health – how we experience it and how it manifests in our behavior, personality, and interactions with the world around us – is a complex reality that is influenced as much by our genetics and ancestry as by From the relational whole web. , sociological, economic, political and environmental factors.

In simple words, how healthy or sick we are, physically or mentally, depends on many factors, such as (a) history of diseases in our family, (b) what economic class we belong to, (c) the environment around us. in workplaces and homes, (d) our relationships, experiences in schools and communities, (e) availability or scarcity of resources, and (f) political conflicts, wars and ecological factors such as famine, drought, floods, and climate change.

To me, this evolving approach, which is becoming more popular than expected, meets at the intersection between compassionate ancient spiritual traditions that treat all things in existence as interconnected and interdependent and modern medicine that focuses on reducing physical symptoms. Helps. There is tremendous possibility and freedom in viewing mental health through this lens.

For example, more commonly experienced conditions such as anxiety, mood swings, mild to severe depression, and some irrational fears or phobias are largely thought to be the result of environment and experiences and can be treated with medications, alternative therapies, and counseling. Concurrent systemic combination may be required. Awareness and change. Some recent studies also link all the above conditions to nutrition, gut imbalance, and post-pandemic stress.

Mental health issues in India

A recent study, A comprehensive analysis of mental health problems and the role of mental asylums in India (2023), A study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that 15 percent of India's population is suffering from some kind of mental health problem.

Another study, Youth and mental health: challenges ahead (2018), published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, states that 'The recently concluded National Mental Health Survey of India estimates that the current prevalence of mental disorders in the age group of 18–29 years is 7.39 per cent (tobacco use disorder (except ) and lifetime prevalence of 9.54 percent.

The prevalence of mental disorders in the age group of 13-17 years is reported to be 7.3 percent. Young people also suffer from high rates of suicide, with suicide being a leading cause of death. It is thought that about half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters by the mid-20s.'

According to another study, Burden of mental disorders across states of India: Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017 (2020), published in The LancetOne in seven young and middle-aged Indians is affected by mental disorders, which is also the largest cause of non-fatal illness in India.

Challenges in addressing mental health in India

Highly varying economic conditions, obvious issues of class, caste, low literacy, poor and unequally distributed medical infrastructure, low funding for research, development and implementation of mental health policies, are all factors that affect mental health in the country. Make installation and repair difficult.

Globalization and the economic boom of the post-90s led to rapid changes in job markets and no separation between personal and professional life leading to a stressful corporate work environment, and long working hours have contributed to the current situation in India. Exacerbated mental health issues. All of these issues have become more pronounced over the past decade, especially after the pandemic, as the boundaries between work, leisure, and entertainment have become increasingly blurred.

All the pervasive technology that keeps our brains stimulated, the faster pace of life and the breakdown of community structures is leading to greater isolation and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression across all age groups and demographics across the country. Who we are, what we feel, what we say, do and how we react to the many events and people around us is like a conversation or continuity between our internal and external landscape at all times. .

Read Post Question

What do you understand about mental health? Is it a closed space in our brain and body or a complex reality influenced by a tangle of factors?

How can an evolving holistic approach to mental health, which considers the intersection of genetic, environmental and social factors, help expand our understanding of mental health and its impact on individuals and communities?

How has the shift toward a pill-based approach to mental health affected the responsibility of social, cultural, and family systems to support mental well-being?

Conditions such as anxiety, mood swings, and depression, which are often linked to environmental and experiential factors, can be effectively addressed through a combination of medications, therapies, counseling, and systemic change. Comment.

,Reema Ahmed is an NLP based coach and consultant, a mental space psychologist and author. In the second segment of this series, she will explore mental health as it manifests in Indian workplaces and approaches that can help slow the growing mental health epidemic.,

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