Mental Illness : A Social Stigma

In our society "Social Stigma " is such a big term which can really changed any person life.

"Social Stigma" is a disapproval or discrimination against an individual or group which is different from the others [ on the basis of certain specified characteristics an individual or group should have ] .It affects the people mental health a lot which leads to mental illness.

So what is Mental illness ?

Mental illness is a disturbance or some sight of disorder in a person's thinking,feeling or behaviour .It affects your way of thinking ,mood and day to day activity.

For Example : Unable to do a simplest work ; do not want to talk to anyone ; unable to sleep at night ; losing your temper on a silly things etc

Reasons for Mental illness :

• Nowadays we want to live 100 years of our life in just 10 years that's why we are always in hurry which leads us to stress and then mental illness occurs.
• We have stopped interacting with people on a emotional level which is why people in today's world are more depressed and sad. 
• People deals with " Peer Pressure " which leads to mental illness ( Peer pressure refers to when we have to do the same things as others are doing in under some control ) . It is mostly common in youth

Mental illness can occur in various forms 

1. Depression 

2.Social anxiety

3.Bipolar Mood Disorder

4. Schizophrenia and many more..

1. Depression :

Depression refers to a type of mental illness in which we lost interest in almost everything. It is a feeling of sadness . Depression can occur at any point of life and at any age but it is usually more found in young generation. Reason could be how they look (Appearance ) , Bullying at school and colleges , Relationship in the society , Peer Pressure ,Job , Family Problems and many more..

Symptoms of Depression :

• Feeling low and self down
• Anger and Frustration
• Self  harm/ Annoyed
• Use of drugs 
• Social isolation and many more

" DEPRESSION IS A DIRECT DOOR TO SUICIDE "

Depression leads to suicide .These all depression thoughts makes a person mentally weak and down

which leads them to end their life.

According to WHO approximately 280 million people in the world have depression and over 7 lakhs people die due to suicide every year.and suicide is the one of the main cause of death in 15-29 years old.

2. Social Anxiety  :

Social anxiety is a mental illness in which we have a fear of being judged and overlooked by others.

It is a kind of social phobia .It is a fear of interacting or talking with others .It really affect our day to day life.

In this illness person feel shy or nervous on a very large extent which disrupt his or her life very badly.

*If you are feeling sad and nervous sometimes  then it is normal but if you are dealing with this on a regular basis then it is a " Social Anxiety " and you should consult a psychiatrist.

3. Bipolar Mood Disorder :

It is that type of mental illness in which patient has extreme mood swings,

sometimes you are full of energy and sometime very depressed.

These mood swings can affect your daily routine .

Although it is a life long disease but it can be cure to some extent with proper medications

4. Schizophrenia :

It is a mental illness which create disturbance in person thought process and how to perceive things.

It create some sort of hallucinations . In this illness person start murmuring to himself.

In India more than 1 million cases are found of Schizophrenia.

There is no cure for schizophrenia but with

treatment can help to some extent.

How Society behaves with mental health patient ?

If a patient who is suffering from mental illness gets a proper treatment then he/she will be cure but in our society mental illness is not considered as illness that's why patient has to bear the brunt of it.

It is considered as a social stigma

In some places patients are shacked. Such patients are not even treated as human in many areas.

People outcast them as if the patient and his family have committed some crime.

In many places people take these patients to mandir or dargaah for treatment instead of doctor and mental hospital.

Even mental hospital are not in good state in India. Even at these places patients are sexually abused.

 " just like patients suffering from another illness , these patient also need love and sympathy "

Treatment condition 

According to WHO around 7.5% suffered from mental disorder.

According to the numbers, 56 million Indians suffer from depression and another 38 million Indians suffer from anxiety disorders.

In india there is a huge shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists as compared to need.

Government condition:

The Union Budget 2021-22, proposed a corpus of Rs 71,269 crore for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which included a budget for mental healthcare – a total of Rs 597 crore. Shockingly, only 7 per cent of the entire budget went to the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP).

People run to doctors for heart ailments they don't take a chance because it could lead to death.

but what about mental illness ?

People make rounds of holy places for treatment but by doing this they only waste time.

" we should have faith not superstition"

Thankyou😇

Sangam Sharma