Our world is home to 1.8 billion people of age of 10-24 years, contributing about one-fourth of the total world population. India has the highest number of this age group with 356 million, despite having a smaller population than China.
Young age is a formative phase with major impacts on the future. Taking care of our physical health is told to us right from our childhood, but something that needs equal attention is our mental health. In a world where everyone is trying to win the rat race, mental health is degrading and symptoms are visible at a very young age.
About 20-25% people suffer from mental and substance use disorders( MSUDs ) worldwide. Recently concluded mental health survey of India estimates the current prevalence of mental disorders in the age group of 18-29 at 7.39% and lifetime prevalence at 9.54%.
Today’s youth is burdened with a lot of expectations and coping up with the toxic competitive environment out there is not possible for everyone. Social media acts as a catalyst here. The revolutionary developments in Information Technology (IT) have been accompanied by ill effects such as reduced social interaction, lack of physical activities and a more sedentary lifestyle. In-person interactions have drastically reduced and are replaced by social networking platforms. A substantial time of the day is spent on the internet and we are exposed to cyber crime, cyber bullying and violent video games. All this leads to anxiety, depression, frustration, distress and other mental health problems among youth.
Seeking therapy/ counseling/ coaching is recommended after acknowledging the problem. Seeking help for mental & emotional issues is still a taboo in our society; and we need to change this paradigm.
Some ways to enhance mental health include:
1. Socializing – Increase in human interaction provides a sense of belonging and can help overcome insecurities.
2. Sharing – Talking to someone trustworthy and sharing our emotions helps reduce the pain.
3. Limiting the time spent on social media
4. Regular Exercise
5. Meditation
6. Eating right
7. Sleeping well
Doing all these things help overcome mental health disorders and lead us towards happy and healthy lives.
On this World Mental Health Day, let’s know that “It’s OK to not be OK” and remove the stigma associated with mental health disorders. Let’s work towards being happier and healthier versions of ourselves.
