Empowering Mental Health with Action

THE IRONY OF OVERLOOKED MENTAL HEALTH

During a phone conversation with my friend, she shared a really exciting story she experienced. She had attended an event dressed as an adorable teddy bear, and to her surprise, she became the centre of attention. Both children and adults couldn't help but notice her, and she felt like a celebrity at that moment. But here’s the crazy part: deep down, behind the adorable facade, she battled weariness and illness, but nobody had a clue because she looked adorable in that costume. The irony of her experience was, that the admiration and attention she received her true needs were shielded under that beautiful costume.

Remember, just because something is invisible doesn't mean it ceases to exist. When something we think is invisible, becomes a source of trouble, we tend to seek help in the wrong places, not realizing that we might unintentionally harm ourselves in the process, because we are not aware.

DE- STIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH

Yes,?Prevention Is Cure, But When It Comes To Mental Health,?Awareness Is The First Step.

Mental health stigma is a global issue and in countries like India, it can be particularly prevalent. Despite the progress being made, there is still a long way to go in destigmatizing mental health.?It’s sad to see how mental health is often linked to weakness or confined within narrow perceptions. It is crucial to continue to fight for change, raising awareness and promoting a more inclusive understanding of mental health.?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 15% of the world's burden related to mental health is accounted for by India. Reports have estimated that 56 million Indians experiencing depression and an additional 38 million are grappling with anxiety disorders.

Let’s break it, what individuals need is improved identification and comprehensive addressing of mental health concerns in the country, effective support and resources for those grappling with mental health challenges. By prioritizing mental health awareness, access to care, and destigmatization efforts they can seek help without feeling guilty or shame.

SELF-CARE TIPS FOR YOU.

Here are some ways you can take care of your mental health:

???Prioritise self-care: Take a mental health day to prioritize self-care and recharge, engaging in activities that stimulate your mind and emotions while practising relaxation techniques. Incorporate regular exercise into your routine as it can significantly benefit your mental health, reducing stress and improving overall well-being.

???Find your support system: Build a support system of trusted individuals and mental health professionals to confide in during both difficult and joyful moments. Most importantly, see what techniques work for you, your journey is unique, and seek professional help when needed.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS STRATEGIES FOR ORGANIZATIONS

There are a few things organisations can do to make the employees aware of their right to seek help and feel valued :

???Making mental health on a policy level: incorporating mental health benefits, such as paying for counselling, therapy, or psychiatric medication, into employee benefit packages, health and safety and so on provides employees with the certainty that they can remove their mask, feeling valued and be themselves in the workplace.

???Coach managers and supervisors: setting up webinars, campaigns, or training to help people comprehend the difficulties, that will help the leaders in determining how to recognise mental health issues. A more proactive approach might also be aided by providing opportunities for them to share their experience and views. By doing this, you can guarantee that the managers have the information and know-how to maintain a psychologically secure workplace.

???Establishing a welcoming and secure atmosphere: Establishing an environment where employees can be transparent and believe that someone will understand them and support their professional development makes them feel appreciated, which is a first step towards breaking the stigma about mental health.

???Providing mental health services: On-site services are very helpful for people finding it hard to cope with the online method, however, organisations can provide referrals and also cover the cost under health benefits, which can help employees with accessing the support that they need.

CONCLUSION

We can write about the top ten techniques to raise awareness or the top five strategies to build a secure environment, all we want. The key is to intentionally start helping those around us and foster an environment where people can be themselves.?