Syed Mansoor Qutab
Often referred to as invisible adversaries, mental health disorders have been quite prevalent over the past decade. Millennials and Generation Z – have found themselves hugely affected by the illnesses the mind brings them. This has given rise to a whole new era of problems, where suicide rates have risen, mainly among the youth globally.
Mental illnesses are caused by unwarranted stress, and the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds. They are caused by biochemical imbalances in the brain. They can be caused by trauma, and environmental factors. Mental illnesses, however, are not the fault, and are not caused by the people that suffer from it themselves. Young people do not have the luxury of being complacent with their work, education, or lifestyle since today’s times require young people to be on their toes most, or all of the time. For these reasons, sleeplessness, stress, anxiety, followed by depressive episodes have become common amongst people. They now have to deal with their day to day stressful lives, with the added burden of dealing with their illnesses. Even though mental health awareness is becoming a slightly more discussed agenda in the international arena, with World Health Organization starting initiatives to help the cause, allowing for better research, resource provision, and challenging the stigma that surrounds these issues, we are still not doing enough.
Discussing stigma is a major topic for the sake of solving the issue of mental health awareness. The concern goes both ways. Stigmatization of mental illnesses, and the fear of stigma itself, both contribute to the lack of progress in the mental health sector. Stigmatization stems from the negative ideology that is promoted in the society. People holding negative ideas allow them to discriminate against certain people and beliefs. By stigmatizing mental illnesses, people usually do not shy away from shunning people who carry these illnesses. Where a person’s emotional and mental condition requires compassion and empathy, the society does the exact opposite by stigmatizing the issue. Empathy has become rare amongst people. Owing to this fact, the fear of stigma amongst people has risen. A condition that can be deescalated by sharing the emotional trauma and strain on oneself goes unnoticed, further intensifying the matter to spiral out of control. Social stigma, and the fear of stigma itself raises the number of people with mental illnesses. The fabricated notion that people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, or drug addiction are dangerous, or non-functioning members of the society escalate the stigma around mental illnesses. They also think that people with mental illnesses bring the problems upon themselves, and that they are difficult to talk to, or to have a conversation with.
To further aggravate the situation, mental health facilities are a luxury. In Pakistan, we have more than 14 million people, approximately 16% of the population, suffering from mental illnesses. Statistics by the World Health Organization shows that only 1% percent of the total facilities and resources exist are for children. Mental disorders are treated at a huge cost, and community facilities are not well equipped to deal with the growing number of ill people. Illnesses then go untreated, escalating matters to an extent where the illness becomes a real and massive threat to the person having it.
We use the term ‘real and massive threat’ because we understand how mental illnesses can shape the lives of people. Slowly spiralling into isolation, being fearful of expressing one’s feelings and having a sense of numbness in one’s self becomes normal practice with mentally ill individuals. This increases the risk of drug and alcohol addiction amongst people, and since mental illnesses are prevalent in young people, they are more susceptible to engage in nefarious activities, as well.
Mental illnesses ruin relationships, giving a rise to divorce rates, and instability, on a domestic and professional level. Experts report a 1 trillion US Dollar loss due to lack of productivity each year because of mental health problems, around the globe. Mental illnesses do not just affect the people that directly have them, but the people around the affected are also taken as collateral. Families find their loved ones to be distant, and isolated. They become increasingly emotionally dependent. In severe cases, they become caretakers for the individuals. Not only families, but companies start seeing a loss of productivity, and leading to loss of quality in work done, and as a result, companies lose their profitability.
Usually psychiatrists recommend medicines to manage the illnesses. These medicines are not meant to treat illnesses, but to halt the aggravation and escalation of the matter. This means that the treatment of these matters is done using extensive therapies. Expert doctors recommend exercises of the mind to treat several illnesses, such as depression and anxiety Therapies exist to help with speech and behaviour. Furthermore, some people can find help through support groups, of people that have been through the same process, and have dealt with matters of the same nature. More intense cases are usually treated through hospitalization, where medications, therapies, and support groups are used as a tool in a controlled environment. Through all of these methods we can contain the problems of mental illnesses.
However, the first thing to do is to spread awareness. The public’s contribution to the cause is important for the growth of a healthy environment. The first step is to openly talk about the issue. Ostracizing people with mental illnesses, just because of minor biochemical imbalances in their brains, is irrational. We need to begin a conversation, on a personal level, and on a state level, where mental health is made a priority. Pakistan’s lack of acknowledgement of the issue is concerning, and by not addressing it, we put our population at risk. Our youth is coming forward with their stories about fighting against depression, anxiety, OCD, or bipolar disorder.
What I fail to comprehend is how, despite all of these signs of rising rates in mental health problems, our society can be unempathetic, and ignore the plight of the mentally ill, or disabled. Awareness through several campaigns is now a priority for us, to end the social stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and the perceived stigma that ill people have, so they can share, as the public becomes more compassionate, and empathetic.
