M For Mindfulness: Bhubaneswar Opening Up To Mental Health Treatments

M For Mindfulness: Bhubaneswar Opening Up To Mental Health Treatments

India has a long way to go when it comes to ensuring the mental health of its citizens. The World Health Organization(WHO) estimates that India has only 0.3 psychiatrists and 0.07 psychologists available per 1,00,000 people. Statistics reveal that more than 80% of people suffering from some form of mental disorders do not receive any kind of treatment. The taboo around mental health further leads to isolation among people who are either suffering from a mental disease or know someone dealing with a mental health crisis.

The theme of World Health Day in 2017 was depression. In a study conducted by National Care of Mental Health (NCMH), approximately 6.5% of Indians suffer from serious mental disorders. Shortage of mental health workers further deteriorates matters. India already has a distinguished tag of being one of the world’s most depressed countries. What led to such a dismal situation and why is talking about mental health still a taboo?

Dr Susmita Mishra, psychologist, blames it on the prolonged negligence of mental health in India and the portrayal of diseases like schizophrenia and anxiety in films and popular media. “Forget schizophrenia, common mental disorders like depression and anxiety too were left untreated for a fairly long time. Even though it has been proven that both common as well as serious mental disorders pose a risk to an individual’s life, the taboo surrounding mental health and lack of psycho-social support from people, including family and friends, has made it extremely difficult to adopt and continue with treatment options. I see my patients and their kins getting restless with therapy, expecting it to provide them immediate results. It is not a tablet which can cure you instantly. It takes time, patience and persistent support which, unfortunately, is absent from the lives of most people I treat,” laments Mishra.

Qualitative analysis of the WHO report states that most Indians prefer never to talk about their illnesses for the fear of being judged, labeled or ridiculed. People suffering from serious illnesses are prone to abuse and sexual violence. Odisha has witnessed a lot of such cases where women or minors suffering from mental illnesses were sexually exploited.

In any case, most Indians do not have access to quality healthcare because 80% of it is located in private sectors, beyond the reach of the poor and the needy. On top of that, lack of health insurance is another key factor. “In such a scenario, mental health does not become their priority. The only silver lining is that urban middle class people have become more aware and try therapy or counselling. Depression is being understood slowly and people are talking about it. But, just like physical well-being, mental health needs to be universal too. If you are not mentally healthy, you will not be able to take care of yourself,” she says.

Thanks to the study of Psychology being introduced in school and university curriculum, youngsters are more aware and conscious of the different kinds of symptoms found in variety of mental disorders. Dr SN Parida, Psychiatrist, opines that Bhubaneswar has had a marked decrease in stigma attached to mental disorders as compared to the statistics 20 years ago. “I used to work in Capital Hospital more than a decade ago. Patients would hardly come those days. But the situation has improved drastically. People are conscious and willing to seek help and treatment. Earlier, a patient had to be coaxed and persuaded relentlessly for treatment; these days they come on their own. In fact, in some cases, they convince their family members to seek treatment,” he says. Technology, too, has come to the aid of people with several meditation and mindfulness apps. That apart, awareness drives and Rural Mental Health Missions have also contributed to people from tier-3 and semi-rural areas seeking professional health and showing less dependence on faith healers.

According to Dr Parida, Bhubaneswar is home to a lot of people suffering from anxiety and depression. “Both of these disorders are affecting a vast majority of people in the capital city across all age groups. We have cases of schizophrenia and psychosis as well. But those need medication which most patients give up after the initial phase. There are certain challenges which we have overcome; certain others need to be dealt with,” he mentions.

“Guilt and unexpressed feelings or resentment creates a lot of pressure on the mind, no matter the age. We counsel them to let those innermost feelings out and follow a middle path. It is a time-consuming process but people have opened up to it now and hopefully, will continue to follow it,” opines Sangeeta Maharathy, wellness coach. Maharathy also advises parents to inculcate healthy mind habits in children. “Right from providing a loving, nurturing environment, children need to be taught how to deal with loss and death. Unlike what the previous generations did, keeping kids away from the darker and harsher realities of life today will not do them any good later on. Knowing how to keep oneself calm and relaxed can lead them to deal with difficult situations later on in their lives.”