Call it a multi-layered beast or a disease that gnaws every inch of positivity, it’s a danger that lurks everywhere. The suicide of actor Robin Williams has triggered a collective dialogue about mental illness.
The sudden swarm of mourning messages for the beloved actor has brought to fore the bête noire of modern living – depression, a reality that can’t be ignored anymore.
He giving up the fight even before Parkinson's disease attacked him makes one wonder what if it had happened to an actor in India, or for that matter any individual. Chances are no one would mention the word depression or mental illness because that would be considered as a stigma. Isn’t it time to change the discourse?
This incident opened the floodgates of messages in social networking sites underlining the need to ‘reach out’ to friends and family members, who could possibly be going through depression - trying to figure what’s going on behind that smile; Is that funny friend actually going through manic depression? Is that friend, who is the life of every party, actually leading a lonely depressed life?
“Too often, people are quick to stigmatize depression and other mental illnesses as forms of moral weakness or lack of willpower. Nothing can be more further from truth than this,” says Dr. N.N. Raju, HOD of Psychiatry, Andhra Medical College.
In a country like India, suicide is still considered to be crime.
So instead of providing solace, it is perceived as a dark patch in the family, who prefer to hush up the issue. “Attempted suicide is an act of desperation, a cry for help. But the law doesn’t see it as such.
Unfortunately, even highly educated families consider as a sign of weakness. But the truth is some people may be more vulnerable and can also have family histories of chronic depression” says Raju.
According to statistics, one in 1,000 depressed people commit suicide and majority of the cases go unreported. “The triggering point happens when there is big gap between reality and desire,” Raju says.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicate that more than one lakh people committed suicide in 2012, with the numbers increasing by 223 per cent over the past decade. Recent studies show that in India the numbers are higher, especially among the young.
Counselling plays a crucial role here. “Each individual has their own set of resilience. We have to learn and build on it,” says psychologist Anita Rao. Rao says that most young minds are vulnerable to failures, be it in the professional or personal life.
“On many occasions, failed relationships trigger depression. Also, suicidal intent individuals are neurologically predisposed. Seeking help from friends may not be an ideal solution as many can be judgemental. The role of counsellors becomes pertinent in such cases,” Rao adds.
The concept of tele-counselling is taking off slowly in the country. After a stressful day at work or a failed relationship with a classmate, what one needs the most is a place to vent out one’s feelings without revealing one’s identity.
“Anonymity helps in confiding your deepest worries to someone who doesn’t know you,” says Raju.
Several counselling sites have sprung up in the recent years such as yourcandidfriend.com, ethoshealthcare.com, onlinecounselling.in, onlinecouselling 4u.com and sharingdard.com who offer a shoulder to lean on. And their numbers are on the rise.
Says 22-year-old Tushar Bharadwaj (name changed): “Sharing one’s emotional issues to a faceless friend helps me flush out the negativity from my mind.”
People in the age group of 18-25 years visit counsellors and counselling sites mostly for breakup-related issues and failure in academics, while the ones in the 25-40 years seek online help for job-related issues like office politics, excessive work pressure and marital discord.
How does one identify depression?
Major signs of depression include aches and pains, exhaustion, feeling worthless, becoming more and more reclusive, fear or rejection, hopelessness, feelings of guilt for things that could not possibly be one’s fault, excessive and needless worrying.
