3 Ways To Get Help If You’re Struggling With A Mental Illness

TW: Suicide

Amidst the pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult for all of us to keep our mental health intact. Especially in India, which ranks 144 out of 156 nations is near the bottom of the league of countries in the World Happiness Report 2020, alongside Afghanistan, South Sudan and Yemen, hate mongers are omnipresent. It shows the stark reality that we aren’t a bunch of happy people in the world.

Instead of building a compassionate society and lending a hand to each other, we are in a rat race to aggravate each others’ agony. We all have build cobwebs around our hearts and hence sometimes the solitary reapers find abominable lull all around. Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely suicidal death making recent headlines worldwide has already given us cold shivers and a spine-chilling experience. Even such a legendary star was no exception to it.

The media and the public did not miss the opportunity to draw an act of voyeurism even after his death.

We need to understand that one’s upbeat demeanour does not disprove the existence of suicidal thoughts. Moreover, “the topic of suicide is still viewed as a taboo for many, causing others to struggle in silence. It is rarely talked about in the home, and many choose to ignore the word if it does not directly affect them. It can be difficult for individuals to know where to begin when wanting to bring this dark issue to the light”.

Many want to lend a helping hand, but do not know how to effectively do so. Knowledge and tolerance to understand and address such issues are limited to only an esoteric crowd. There is a dire need to talk about it, begin a conversation, and open up defying our socially inept attitude as it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. Eventually, it may save a precious life. After all, every life counts, every life is precious.

Let’s break those strands of complacency which have coiled around us and rise above the moribund souls inside us. Let’s not contribute to its perpetuity of this taboo, rather help to minimize it. It’s high time to relinquish the most common maxim which we keep saying to ourselves all the time in India, “apna kaam banta, bhaad me jaaye janta” (caring only about yourself, rest no one else matters).

So, if you are someone or you know someone who has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Few initiatives taken by different organizations and government are as follows:-

• Microblogging giant Twitter India, in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), has launched a “dedicated new search prompt which will increase our ability to be compassionate towards people around us and help them in need by letting them know “#ThereIsHelp”. It will be visible till September 25 and can be activated in 23 languages.
• Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, the HRD minister has inaugurated the helpline “Bharosa” through a video conference for providing mental and psychological assistance to the students of any university in Odisha. The helpline number is 08046801010.
• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Thawarchand Gehlot has launched a new helpline “Kiran” whose number is 18005990019 which would work 24×7 to help people struggling with mental health issues. “They will be able to get counselling sitting at home. Also, arrangements are being made that everyone can get answers in his/her mother tongue only. The information is already available in 13 languages”, Gehlot said.