Making mental health a priority

Only since the era of COVID started mental health issues like stress, anxiety and depression have started being talked about openly in India. In a recent survey, mental health was identified as one of the most frequently discussed topics among millennials. The majority of people now place greater importance on discussing it.

Although people are aware of it now to some extent, there is a lot of confusion around the treatment and how science can help us with it. WHO has estimated that the burden of mental health problems in India is increasing. In India, 21 suicides happen for every 100,000 people. So the importance of mental health issues and their awareness is undeniable.

If we look back a few years ago, people did not consider mental health as a problem itself. The idea of seeking help or talking about it used to be considered taboo. And those who were going through it were not even aware of how big a problem that was, If someone is being demotivated or lethargic for no reason, that person might be regarded as lazy and not many people will even give it much attention. In India, more than 60% of people are working professionals in their 9-5 job. And this rate is increasing by 4 % every year from 2006 - 2009. A study says 44% of IT professionals had their mental health affected since the start of the pandemic. Be it long working hours or not having a social life, it has affected their personal and professional life. Why is mental health awareness so crucial? -- One of the main reasons people don't ask for help is that they are not aware of the problem themselves. They might not recognize the symptoms or signs of it. --The knowledge of various methods and coping mechanisms will help us to help ourselves, a family member or a coworker at the workplace. --By being aware, we can also empathize with the person experiencing it, and identify or ask the right help at the right time. --It would help us to spread the word among a large population through social media or any other platform. According to a research done by TLLF (The Love, Live , Laugh )Foundation founded by Deepika Padukone),the people who had partcipated in the survey was asked the question “How do you describe mental health illness?”. Some of them responded or identified the symptoms like. Anxiety/Depression/Alzheimers. And almost half of the people have used the word “retard” in their answers. In the same survey, 17% of the people claimed to know someone who is suffering from mental health issues. And only 2% of the people actually admitted to suffering from mental illness. So the question comes as to how can we increase awareness about it. --Educating children about mental health after a certain age and teaching them how to identify the illness --Creating and implementing an awareness training program at the workplace. --Making the experts available in health stations or hospitals like any general physician -- Making the different communities aware of it by providing them with the required resources.

Many people scoff at discussing mental health today, and even if they do, they use terms like Crazy/Mad/Stupid to describe mental illness. Everyone has witnessed the emotional trauma and stresses some people went through in the past covid time. And as human beings, it is our responsibility to understand and show empathy towards other people's emotional needs. And it is Vital to create awareness in order to approach towards solving the problem of mental health in India more stringently.

By

Anindita Rath

@scrambled.writer

(Anindita Rath , keeps an interest in writing, reading and speaking on various topics. She has been working as an IT professional in an MNC for the past few years, yet she continues her journey of being a writer.She also has been a part of few anthologies till date.She is an explorer from the heart who likes to try different things and learn from them and from life experiences. Her love for writing led her to create and dissect situations and present a different perspective on things.She is happy to share and receive feedback and loves to collaborate with peer writers)

Story of Covid Warriors

The sickness caused by the coronavirus Covid-19 is now well-known throughout the entire world. This contagious disease spread so quickly that it covered the entire planet in a month. As a result, the WHO classified it as a pandemic.

Nobody was aware of the illness brought on by the new virus. That is why it was difficult to treat it right away. It had claimed the lives of many people, and many others were hanging on the verge of death. The hospitals were completely inaccessible. Lockdown was declared in all nations when a sudden, severe crisis struck.

Police – as Corona Warrior : Police officers played a prominent role in a case like a lockdown. The police were given the duty by the government to ensure that no crowds formed. The police have to adopt a very strong stance in this regard. People occasionally needed to be beaten up, which was met with outrage and accusations that the cops were terrible. They received criticism on social media as well. The fact is that everything was done for the public's sake to stop the disease from spreading further. Corona workers struggle : The police, municipal workers, media, and doctors all pitched in to protect the populace from the Coronavirus. These workers have lost sight of their own homes while serving the public. They refuse to return home even when their children call, and there is a subtext of selfishness in their refusal to infect their family members.

Front Line Workers : We should salute and respect all medical professionals as well as all sanitation employees who dedicate their life to serving the public without regard for their own interests or well-being.

The doctors did not even have time to eat or drink because of how busy the hospitals were. Without taking a break, they were working on caring for the patients. All of the medical professionals, including nurses and doctors, worked nonstop to care for the patients.

Other health professionals also performed their duties fearlessly during this crucial time. When a disease caused family members to flee from their loved one, the health professionals stepped forward to take care of them . This is a matter of great appreciation. Corona Karamveer Award | Honoring Corona Karamveer : During the lockdown (Phase 1), the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, extended new congratulations to all the medical professionals. Candles were lit and utensils (thalis) were played simultaneously across the nation to honor the Corona workforce. So that the enthusiasm and morale of all of these personnel might be raised. These workers are all our defence against this contagious disease, Covid 19. These corona workers are employed in the service of the people to protect them from the war of the coronavirus, much as the country's warriors defend their country during times of war. They were given the title of Frontline Warriors, or Corona Karmaveer. From helicopters, the soldiers rained flowers on medical professionals as a mark of respect. The Indian Army, with its three divisions, attempted to boost the men of COVID-19's zeal. In order to save people, several doctors and police officers died.

Nearly 1.25 crore Covid warriors are engaged throughout the nation, including doctors and MBBS students. In addition to medical professionals, the list of Corona warriors also includes former employees, panchayat servants, Asha workers, and Anganwadi members. In the conflict with Corona, everyone from the NCC to the Gram Rozgar Sevak and Panchayat Secretary has been involved. Railway Hospitals and Defense Hospitals were additionally regarded as Corona Warriors.

By

Dr. Tulika Sarkar

(I'm Dr. Tulika Sarkar from Kolkata, West Bengal. I love to explore and want to spread the sort of unknown hidden treasure of knowledges. I have been writing for last 3 years. I'm an experienced writer whose writings have been published on Nblik app, magazines and many anthologies. I have worked with Thinkly app, Pratilipi app, Story mirror app, Stallions publications, The Wordings, Divine publications, The Quill house, Wordslingers, Unicorn magazine, SGSH publications, Feathers word publications, JEC.publications, Tristar publications and many more.)

HOLY CRAB!

Did you know that most breast cancers are carcinomas? What does that mean? It was derived from karkinos, a Greek word meaning crab. The tentacle like features in the tumour resembles crab’s legs.

 “Folly meets fearful ills with fearless heart; To fear where cause of fear exists is wisdom’s part.”
- Thirukkural (Couplet) no. 428, translated by G.U. Pope.

Its idiocy not to fear what ought to be feared, it’s wise to dread what ought to be dreaded. 

Breasts are now viewed as a symbol of sexual attraction, although they are also the source of human survival after birth. It is not always too private to avoid the conversation; after all, it is an organ that also needs care and medical attention.

We must understand the primary issue and its underlying causes. Early detection is a key to successful treatment, yet we usually ignore early warning signs. We have followed many ideologies all around the world to generate such awareness.

Much awareness programmes have recently camped out, and the talks have taken over the internet. As a result, people are more conscious of the impending threat that is cancer and its versions, such as breast cancer.

Because of the programmes, people have been urged to be proactive about their health by getting checked regularly. This proactive approach to health has had a significant effect on cancer prevention.
What people truly need right now is to remain alert in order to keep themselves or their family members from succumbing to the life-sucking sickness. We need common sense to help raise awareness, not thumbing likes over random feeds on social media.

This is only achievable if more we attempt to inform people, particularly young adults, about the potential hazards linked to cancer and its many forms. Education is essential one for preventing any deadly disease, including cancer, and educating people on the disease’s consequences is a powerful weapon for ensuring the public remains aware and proactive in combating the disease.

However, art and literature play a significant role in educating people about the upcoming threat. The artists and authors are accountable for providing people with high-quality content in order to raise awareness by bringing light into the darkness of their ignorance.

Implementing art and literature into the school system might be a critical aspect in motivating people to take action and become more health-conscious. We can draw attention to the seriousness of cancer while also encouraging others to take action by utilising the creativity of art and literature.

We can develop a better educated society that is more willing and capable of responding to the many risks linked with cancer by raising awareness. We can help promote a healthy lifestyle and, as a result, reduce the number of cancer cases in our society.

Over the ages, we have discussed breasts, but the truth remains that breasts play a crucial part in human existence no matter what that function may be or how it is perceived. Breasts have long fascinated and perplexed people, from the ancient Egyptians to the modern day. Though their primary function has always been to nourish, we have objectified breasts throughout history and across cultures.

If no one around you is talking about it and is rather quiet because of being stigmatised, we have the responsibility to step out of our comfort zones to raise awareness and be an iconic example of awareness.

By,

Aurora Bluemoon
@aurora.bluemoon

(Aurora Bluemoon is a pen name inspired by the magnificence of the southern lights, Aurora Australis, and the 13th full moon of the phrase “Once in a Blue Moon,” where all miracles happen, signifying the rarity of the natural phenomena. In real life, I play my role as an entrepreneur with a master's degree in English literature. As an innovative writer, my vivid thoughts of fantasy led me to the writers’ world by the year 2021. I’ve strategized my unique way of captivating readers in the fantasy world that I’ve created. I’ve contributed my works to various literary genres like poetry, short stories, book reviews, articles, and novels and accolades few winner titles and awards)