Mental health issues still fall under the category of the misunderstood and intangible for many. In a country where the state of healthcare oscillates between heart transplants facilitated by green corridors and child deaths caused by lack of oxygen cylinders, mental health is far from the spotlight. If we look at the numbers though, it’s time we put it on our priority list.
SCARY STATISTIC #1
1 in 20 Indians is grappling with depression
The National Mental Health Survey, 2016, says that 5% of the population in India has depression. Moreover, almost 1% of the population is at high risk of suicides, states the survey, which covered 12 Indian states and was conducted by NIMHANS and the Government of India.
What we can do: “Awareness of depression world over is very low, so much so that even the UK government has had to sponsor awareness events,” points out Dr Sumant Khanna, a Gurgaon-based psychiatrist. The signs to look out for: “Being withdrawn, losing interest in activities one used to enjoy, a drastic change in sleep habits (sleeping either too much or too little), are some symptoms. People may question the whole point of living. It’s only when the situation is very severe, though, that they talk of suicide.” People who commit suicide need not always be depressed. If you spot these symptoms in yourself or in someone close to you, talk to a mental health professional.
SCARY STATISTIC #2
There are 0.301 psychiatrists per 100,000 people
This means that there are 3 doctors for every 1 lakh people in the country, on an average, says the World Health Organization.
What we can do: Dr Mohan Raj, a psychiatrist at Tharu Clinic, Chennai, says that awareness is key and the way forward is to talk to our children about it as a career option. Online therapy may help to some extent, as it gives us access to doctors abroad thereby expanding the base of professionals available. It helps to reach those who do not have access to a psychiatrist in medical facilities around where they live. Certain mental health institutions have started looking for ways to reach out to people who live in areas with less access, says Dr Raj. “Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), Chennai, has a telemedicine service, where doctors can counsel those in need through video conference,” he states as an example.
SCARY STATISTIC #3
20 in 100 people have a substance abuse problem
The National Mental Health Survey, 2016, found that substance use disorders (including tobacco dependence, alcohol abuse, and prescription and other drug issues) are prevalent in 20% of the population.
What we can do: Dr Vivek Benegal, a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Medicine, NIMHANS, and one of the authors of the report, breaks it down for us.
“Everyone who is using a substance is not addicted to it,” he clarifies, “There is dependent use, and there is harmful use. For dependent use, the numbers found in India are pretty much the same as in most countries, while the numbers for harmful use varies from country to country depending on cultural and other reasons. The issue is when people lose control over their use, be it an addictive substance or your cell phone. If you use it much more than you thought you would; if it supplants your duties and other priorities; if you are unable to stop yourself from using it even when you intend to, and find yourself craving it, that’s harmful.” The step is to acknowledge it, and then to get rid of the habit. You could try doing it yourself, and if that doesn’t work, approach a mental health professional.
