The human mind is the most extraordinary and least understood part of the body. It is the source of joy and creativity, but it can also create a host of emotions such as grief, hopelessness and inadequacy. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. It is about how people feel, think and behave. The WHO estimates that one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives and that around 450 million people worldwide suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill health and disability. The recent suicide of actor and philanthropist Sushant Singh Rajput sent shockwaves not only across Bollywood but also forced India to reawaken the dire need for mental health talk and awareness.
Treatments for mental illnesses are available but the issue lies with the stigma and discrimination that comes with mental disorders. It is a highly misunderstood illness as the ailment cannot be seen with the naked eye, and thus many neglect it, and with neglect there is no understanding. The consequences of mental health problems are often hidden as it is many a times a source of shame for the sufferer and bewilderment for those around them. A lack of urgency, widespread misinformation and competing demands are stopping citizens and lawmakers alike from taking stock of the magnitude and depth of mental illness and its impacts on personal and societal fronts. The magnitude of the problem and the corresponding response is severely mismatched. The responsibility for action and awareness is with the governments and access for treatment must be given to all. It is critical to understand that mental illness does not exist in a vacuum; the brain exists within a human body which in turn exists with a family, a culture, a society, an economy. When external factors impact mental illness, then solutions to those problems may also lie outside the brain, through preventive action, intervention and treatment.
Nagaland has seen a number of initiatives for mental health related to Covid-19. The All Nagaland Counsellors’ Association has volunteered to provide free telephonic counselling services to anyone having coronavirus-related concerns. The department of Health and Family Welfare, government of Nagaland, is also conducting a voluntary survey on mental health and psychological wellbeing of frontline workers and general population in Nagaland during Covid-19 pandemic along with a toll helpline being set up for citizens affected as a result of the outbreak. However, general awareness and discussion on and about mental health is severely lacking in the state and it is often considered a taboo, even likened to a curse by some sections of society. There is also a severe lack of psychiatrists in Nagaland as very few choose to visit them and seek help. Knowledge can have tremendous impact on how societies and public health communities deal with mental disorders. We must shift the move away from large stigmatised institutions, and towards community care alternatives. It is time we talk about the invisible illness that comes in many forms from mild anxiety or severe depression and even schizophrenia. As a community, and with the steadfast backing of the government, we must highlight the importance of mental health and fight it head on.