Preface
Why discuss mental health? Is it an issue in a culturally sanitized
country like Bharat untouched by urban rape episodes; to recall the brazen gaffe
of RSS Chief and Asa Ram howler after Nirbhaya episode?
Ominous
Indicators
8 April 2015: Study by
Industry Association. India's young working professionals (age group 20 to 39) hit hard by
depression, anxiety disorder. Alarming number affected: 42 percent
Deepika Padukone Depression
Syndrome. Wide
spread publicity by a diva has stirred public imagination pan India to talk about
it. ‘Most depressed country in the world
is India at 36 percent with highest suicides rate of over a lakh annually’;
source WHO. These are official figures
raising the proverbial question: Is it
tip of the iceberg?
Psychoanalysis of the Three
Videos.
Video on Deepika’s choices
may have mass appeal, but ignores the time-tested truism—every choice has short
and long term consequences. She disapproved choice of Ranbir-Katrina in
bikini to binge on beech! Why? Would Deepika spend marital life with a promiscuous
hubby or as a prospective Mom be OK with her progenies making self destructive
choices? She may like to make the self-awareness choice to rethink!
Logically, ‘Choices’ are
expression of one’s thought process and feelings (negative or positive). Question is whether her two choices 1) to
lend voice and 2) to attend the controversial AIB Show portray positive or
negative feelings. Consequences of both
continue to draw unsparing flaks.
Striking feature of the
video on depression; it omitted to address root cause (s). I think it was the
expected outcome of her bottled-up loads of negative feelings since may be
childhood. As her well wisher, I need to place on record my concern--until root
cause is addressed, Deepika is likely to remain vulnerable.
Aviation World. 6 April 2015 Air India flight Jaipur – Delhi.
Fight in Cockpit in which Commander was beaten by co-pilot. In Mar 2015,
co-pilot, Germanwings deliberately crashed a plane in the French Alps
causing death of 150.
12 April 2015: Interaction with a Lady of 50. Her confusion and disorientation surprised me
as I have always perceived her to be a woman of substance. She has been thru
rough and tumble of life including near death experience smilingly and
powerfully. It was disconcerting to find someone of her
financial stature and maturity shrouded in cobwebs of emotions.
These indicators are much
too compelling to gloss over. It brought back memories of my experiences
listening to young and old helplessly struggling due to absence of any credible
support system. Barring few, insatiable urge for wealth of professionals
makes me wonder as to their state of mental health! Perspectives on Counselors/Professionals
Dr M Scott Peck,
renowned psychotherapist & author of best seller ‘The Road Less Traveled. Excerpts; ‘therapist’s ability bears very
little relationship to any credentials…
Love, courage & wisdom cannot be certified by academic degrees….two
of the very greatest therapists I know have never even graduated from college;
Persona of a Counselor: 70% innate qualities & 30% skill.
Comments
of Two Young Professionals Recently. 1) “most so called erudite scholars live in distress. Doon
Youth Centre (DYC) Counseling Facilities has
been best that i have come across in my lifetime, after having met so many
professionals. 2) Totally agree. Nothing can make somebody scholar if s/he
doesn't have right attitude.”
What
is Mental Health?
It encompasses complex
interpolative functions of our uniquely designed network generating thinking.
In turn having bearing on our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle
stress, relate to others, and make choices. Essence of this well conceived understanding
may be expressed figuratively thus:
Thoughts—Feelings—Choice of Behavior & Response—Interpersonal
Relationship. Source as modified
To sum up mental health is
an intrinsically dynamic factor embedded within and with sacrosanct individual choice
to manage life purposefully or otherwise!
Number
Afflicted with Mental Health
Healthy Sexuality.
For better understanding of affliction we need to re-read Healthy Sexuality Part I & II (Restructured) of
my blog. To briefly recap, sexuality is the totality of being a male or
female Ethically, Emotionally, Mentally, Relationally, Spiritually & Physically. Most importantly, Healthy Sexuality does not mean absence of decease or
libido. In other words, those with
unhealthy sexuality would fall into the category: ‘Afflicted With Mental Health.’
Official Statistics.
Banters like ‘semantics of lies and damn lies’ have often subtly questioned the
veracity of such stats. As for stats on
Emotional Quotient (EQ), I have strong reservation on official figures as
informal feedbacks in an enabling environment are more credible being less
intimidating to responders.
Informal Feedback
During past few months I
have been bouncing off thoughts with people belonging to different age groups,
social/financial status, male/female, work place environment, different countries
and so on. Credible figure globally howsoever inconvenient/shocking is as high
as 80 to 85 percent enduring stressful
life wearing masks.
More than 90 percent teenagers/adults are affected by Boy-Girl Friend relationship.
This has been repeatedly revealed thru surveys and interactions with students of at least 30 different
schools over a period of 15 years.
More than 90 percent are
victims of sexual abuse, eve teasing, domestic violence, marital disharmony,
promiscuous life, substance abuse and so on.
Determinant
of Mental Health
Masking Emotions.
Transparency is a crucial
factor of healthy relationship. Yet all are perfectly trained in wearing masks
from childhood. Consequences are right on our face as stated already. Bottled
up emotions manifest in unacceptable behaviors like strained relationships,
violence, substance abuse, psychosomatic issues, self harm, suicides and so
on.
As a survivor of sexual
abuse, I vividly recall my vulnerable
life style for decades wearing masks. Advisors were many and so was I. Frequent
rebuffs did not help mend ways as I was too insecure to let go relationship. Drought
of empathetic listeners worsened my internal health! Despite perfect physical fitness, mental health, though
asymptomatic clinically, disturbed my comfort zone constantly.
By default or design my
popularity curve was on upswing till 50. Flair for quality entertainment and
performance expanded egoistic halo. Pampered by families, ladies in particular,
put me on a fancy trip to nowhere! Successfully pre-empted childhood garbage of
erotic thoughts to override my values! Some
occasions were too irresistible! Literally I waded through hormonal fire
frequently until the shift in paradigm from unhealthy to healthy sexuality post
60!
Retrospectively, envious wrath
of many to tarnish my image is a statement on afflicted mind-sets of people
then. State of inertia continues despite advancement! Neighbors still relish
gossiping about morbid happenings in the neighborhood.
Behavior
It is a continuum of choices
following perfect pattern designed by the Creator: Thoughts—Feelings—Choice/Action—Repeated
Choice/Action—Habits—Repeated Habits—Character—Destiny. Annotations:
·
Values/principles/rights & wrongs
influence quality of thinking & thought impulse.
·
Feelings could be either Positive or Negative
depending on the quality of thoughts.
·
Choices/Actions demonstrate behavior revealing
attitude.
Verbal (V) and/or Non-Verbal (NV) Communication. Simply
put expression of choices/action could be either. NV includes everything other
than verbal like voice tone, body language, eyes/eyebrow movement and so on. Interaction
is in fact interplay of the two components V & NV in ratio of 1:9. Refers Page
240-41 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey.
Non-Verbal Communication
being 90 percent it would be almost impossible to hide internal environment by wearing masks to a perceptive observer.
Conclusion
Behavior mirrors mental health.
Good mental health generates happy feelings leading to good behavior. Conversely,
bad behavior reflects unhealthy mental state. It is as simple as that enabling
self-assessment!! Solution?
