Mental disorders: taboo topic
SUFFERING from a mental disorder is like going through hell. In our society, the public is not well aware of these disorders.
There are people who are affected by depression and live a devastating life without even getting treatment. Then there are those who are extremely aggressive and physically/verbally abuse their family members.
This we take so easily, thinking that this person is just aggressive by nature but the reality is that he might be suffering from a psychological disorder.
There are a lot of people who suffer from schizophrenia and get visual and auditory hallucinations and think they are
possessed by djinns and go to fake pir who uses their helplessness just to make money.
The most important thing to realise is that these mental disorders are common and can easily be treated with medication and therapy. But, unfortunately, in our country people think that going to a psychiatrist or a psychologist signifies that the person is a crackpot or a mental case and that he is abnormal.
Therapists have a basic and humane function of getting people back into their normal lives. However, the only reason
preventing us from disclosing about our depression is the fear inside us, as to what the other person would think about me.
Now this thought needs to be changed. As long as we do not change these thinking patterns, we will never flourish as a society.
In the West, people are not ashamed of disclosing about going to a therapist because they take it so normally, and because
most people do consult therapists, the level of anxiety in them is less as compared to us. They have progressed tremendously in this area.
The small element of helping each other out is lacking in us.
Although we do have a Mental Health Ordinance 2001, but there seems lack of implementation to its provisions. We need to create awareness about it by promoting it so that people realise that seeking help is normal, and they can help themselves and others.
Employers should also be made aware of such disorders so that biases and discrimination are avoided. I would recommend a mental health practitioner working in every company for the wellbeing of its employees.
To conclude, one should realise that people suffering from mental conditions are normal people just like us: their only problem is that they are not being able to cope well with their issues due to which they suffer and need the help of a
professional. We need to help such people around us and extend our support to them.
The more fulfilling, self-satisfying and less stressful lives we live, the more likely we are to prosper as individuals and as nations.
ADIL USMAN
Karachi
Under these circumstances there are people who know something is wrong with them but don't know what it is.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder would be one of those conditions.
Mental disorders usually skip one generation as human beings inherit, not from parents but from their two sets of grandparents.
I do agree with Mr.Adil we as a whole nation is in dire need of changing our attitude
Mental illnesses are no different than other illnesses that we get treated for. Just imagine the consequences of untreated Diabetes, heart disease or fracture of a bone. If the mental illnesses are treated appropriately (which is possible these days) the quality of life could improve significantly. The stress level could decrease and people could live happily. This would in turn make people around them happy too. Likewise, who will suffer if we are not treated adequately and let things get out of control?
Awareness about mental disorder or psychological problems is direly needed in the country.
If a proper assessment of mental disorders in cities is done, the percentage of population suffering from some kind of mental abnormality will be very high. The society does not accept that brain being a part of human body can also malfunction at times, just like other body parts and must be treated. As long as this will remain a taboo the sufferers will continue to have a miserable life.
Mental health is a taboo i agree but taking it with a pinch of SALT i would like to add that our nation has other ailments of which mental health is a derivative Pakistanis do not have enough food to feed them amicably so how can they afford to pay the odd cash for mental therapy . with 94% living in devastating conditions load shedding of electricity , lack of quality education,lack of clean drinking water….to name a few….so mental health is a luxury for the nation….but one thing is sure we are a nation which is alive and not just existing……our geopolitical position makes us uncrushable from SIACHIN TO QUETTA and across the Potohar region to our proud tribal areas…so where mental health is taboo our resilience as a nation is not a taboo..