Mental health has become a key topic of discussion in recent times. According to figures published in 2017 by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 million people, or 4% of the world’s population, suffer from depression.
The sad truth is that we always focus on how someone appears from the outside. Having a mental illness or depression is not perceived as “normal,” and considered to be an inconvenience by our society.
In fact, many families condemn such illness as an embarrassment, which holds one back from truly acknowledging their situation and having the courage to seek medical help for emotional and mental health issues.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms such as feeling sad or depressed must be present for “most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks” for someone to be diagnosed with depression.
On the other hand, the American Psychiatric Association describes depression as “a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.”
When clinical depression is left untreated, it can tremendously affect one’s overall well-being and day-to-day activities.
The level of intenstity can differ from person to person, and in the worst case scenario, it can result in suicide.
In 2016, the number of suicide cases in Bangladesh was 10,600. Shockingly, this figure increased to 11,095 in 2017.
Statistics produced by the Bangladesh Police suggest that, in our country, approximately 30 people commit suicide every day, and it is more prevalent among women than men.
Figures from the Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights further indicated that there were 417 staggering cases of women in Bangladesh who committed suicide in 2017, compared to 194 cases of men who committed suicide in the same year.
It is clearly transparent from the above figures that mental health problems are on the rise in our country.
It is, therefore, high time we prioritize the issue, talk openly about it so that we can find better ways to help those who suffer in silence, and establish better prevention programs to achieve a reduction in the rates of suicide.
We are aware that antidepressant medication and lifestyle changes have proven to be beneficial for many patients, but it is important to state that one’s own determination and spirit are crucial to take back control of one’s life.
One can only achieve that when one does not have to hide one’s state and the community accepts them as they are.
That kind of acceptance would result in someone continuing to have the patience to actively participate in treatment. It is the duty of family members, friends, colleagues, and health care providers to emphasize that mental illness, like any other illness, is treatable.
It is absolutely regrettable that the problem of stigma associated with mental illness is so widespread in our country and society that one needs to hide one’s illness. Individually, we must take a step to eradicate this social stigma and make it easier to talk about mental health.
We must understand that it is normal for anyone to have an emotional breakdown; this is a part of life. We never hide our physical illnesses, so why do we treat or judge mental illness differently? These questions must be addressed and reflected upon.
In our culture, when someone says that they are going through depression or mental health treatment, we immediately label them as “pagol.” Instead, what we should focus on is developing our own emotional intelligence and cultivating empathy so that we can understand what they are going through and endeavour to offer solace.
It might be difficult to help or be a friend to someone with depression, but perhaps this is exactly what they would need during such difficult times -- no judgement, only kindness.
Present times require that we judge people less, be more kind, and take a step towards changing our perception of mental health and illness. Let us begin by making it easier and normal to talk about mental health and depression so that those suffering in silence do not hold back or fear being laughed at.
Let us reach out to them before it’s too late for them to travel out of the dark shadows. We must remember that having a mental illness does not mean one is defective; it only shows that one is human.
Aishi Dastidar is a graduate in Sociology from the University of Leeds, UK.
