The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health. This special day endorsed and propagated by the World Health Organization (WHO) provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental healthcare a reality for people worldwide.
The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is the only international multidisciplinary, grassroots advocacy and education organisation concerned with all aspects of mental health. It was founded in 1948 to advance, among all people and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health.
Although mankind has made significant growth in innovation and technology, there still remain negative attitudes and stigmas associated with mental health and the treatment of such issues originating from the human mind. This is a global issue. Mental health issues include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Interestingly, developed countries have made commendable progress in dealing with mental health, whilst sadly other nations (mostly in the Asian Region) have a biased and ignorant attitude towards mental health. This situation is primarily induced by a misinterpretation of culture, social stigma, decade-old superstitions and a misguided understanding of religion. If I may elaborate, if a child is born with a physical condition which manifests mental instability, the Asian mindset at once judgingly assumes that this is divine punishment for the parents. Some would say the child is cursed. This puts the parents into a rejection mode and they too suffer emotional trauma until their demise.
Another area of grave concern is found in the Asian understanding and acceptance of mental health conditions. The truth is that emotional trauma can slowly induce changes in the ‘normally accepted’ behaviour of anyone. In Sri Lanka, anyone displaying such genuine symptoms is quickly labelled in a degrading manner as a ‘mental’ person. This shameful attitude of labelling in itself adds to the suffering of the afflicted persons and their families. Furthermore, though our medical sector has made tremendous growth in many areas, there is a major lacuna in the attitude of medical staff, especially nursing and other caregivers when it comes to mental health patients.
On the other hand, persons with mental health issues are sometimes labelled and rejected by their families, which is a terrible situation in most Asian region countries. It is disturbing to see how these families respond to such a person. Instead of kindly taking the affected person for professional counselling and psychiatric treatment, parents quickly seek ‘supernatural intervention’ on a one-time cure basis. Heavily induced by superstition, people subject the ‘mentally afflicted person’ to all sorts of bizarre rituals.
The use of animal sacrifices and blood to cleanse the patient is disgusting. These rituals show the ignorance prevailing in these countries. Interestingly, some people in Western nations also indulge in ‘refined’ rituals via psychic healers and clairvoyants. Sometimes, extreme manifestation of mental disorders, is quickly associated with ‘demon possession’. Whilst paranormal forces do operate, most of these violent manifestations are deeply rooted mental health issues, aggravated with time. They can be treated by psychiatric assessment and confidential clinical care. This will be another day’s article.
Another culturally-induced harassment that ushers ‘mental issues’ on women in the Asian region is marriage. No sooner a woman reaches 20 years of age she is thrust with the ‘quest’ to find a man who must be handsome, rich and even religious. The career development and other noble desires of the Asian woman need emancipation. This undue pressure leads young women to marry the ‘wrong’ man which leads to marriage issues, divorce and even suicide. Within this is another problem; if a woman does not produce a healthy child within two years she is subject to harassment and embarrassing questions regarding her womb. This is a sad case in millions of Asian homes. Such harsh judgement mainly by other ‘blessed mothers’ causes immense hurt and trauma to these innocent women.
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| Combat fatigue in Vietnam. |
Suicide is a byproduct of a traumatised mind without hope and love. We cannot talk of mental health without talking about suicide. World Suicide Prevention Day takes place annually on September 10. Suicide prevention is everybody’s business. There have been many suicide prevention initiatives, some focused on the individual, some on the environment, some on systems and caregivers.
The impact of COVID-19 on suicide rates globally cannot be ignored. Today in the face of increasing economic hardships for some sectors of society as a direct result of this pandemic, people are stressed across the world. It is imperative that we provide people with hope, confidence, love and options for rapid mental health interventions and support. Governments and the community play an important role in suicide prevention. Suicide is devastating and every life lost impacts families and communities. In the Sri Lankan situation, suicide and suicide prevention remain a key mental health issue. We must never label a person as a ‘failure’ or condemn them for any actions.
Two of the well-known organisations dedicatedly working towards suicide prevention and mental health awareness in Colombo are the Sumithrayo Foundation and the CCC Foundation. The CCC phone line 1333 offers toll-free counselling in English, Sinhala and Tamil on a 24-hour basis. I have been involved in their annual Bikeathon event. This amazing event sees local and foreign riders cycling across the island spreading the message of hope and encouraging people to call the 1333 hotline.
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| A chair with restraints for violent patients. |
The LGBTQ community often draws mixed opinions in Asian society. Firstly, we must respect and accept all these people as humans. Their sexual orientation is their personal choice. In the Asian mindset, those who come under the LGBTQ umbrella are judged, subjected to insults and emotional trauma. Their families are subjected to judgement and rejection by relatives and society. I draw your attention to J. Edgar Hoover, the founding father of the FBI. It is widely speculated that he was gay. However, his brilliant work on counterterrorism is now followed by law enforcement agencies worldwide. It is time we accept and celebrate the achievements of humans, leaving aside their sexual orientations. Every human life is valuable.
Finally, I wish to highlight a factor in mental health. The condition we call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrible event. This is a global issue not fully understood by some healthcare workers. PTSD is brought upon by many sudden situations, especially in armed conflicts.
During my time in the USA, I was privileged to work with brave veterans who fought in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. PTSD symptoms (including nightmares) can manifest years later. They often have suppressed memories (similar to shell shock) that are suddenly triggered later in life. Globally, PTSD is not confined to soldiers alone. It has deeply affected civilians caught up in armed conflicts as well. In the post war periods, civilians need professional counselling and treatment to successfully overcome their PTSD issues. Examples include the innocent Afghans fleeing the Taliban, as refugees. They will be emotionally scarred. At the end of the day the root cause of mental health problems is unleashed by humans on humans. It is obvious that we must accept and assist those who are facing difficult moments in their life. We can truly become part of their healing by staying positively connected, showing love and care. Lend your ear to listen and your heart to heal.
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| Soldiers with PTSD post World War II. |
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