Mental illness affects 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers, and 13% of children each year.There could be people struggling with their mental health right around you. It could be your family member, friend, teacher. However, only few of them receive thew right kind of help whereas the others don’t because of the stigma attached to it.Mental health is as important as our physical health.I causes disturbances in thinking, behaviour, energy or emotion which make it difficult to cope with the regular activities of life.

COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS:

• ANXIETY DISORDERS:According to certain studies and statistics, more than 18% of the adults go through this every year. It also includes post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD), panic attacks, generalised anxiety disorder and specific phobias.
• MOOD DISORDERS: Mood disorders usually includes depression and bipolar depression.Statistically, it affects around 10% pf adults each year and are characterised by difficulties in regulating ones mood.

STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH:

The general perception of mental health has improved over the past few decades but studies show that the stigma around mental health is still powerful largely due to lack of education and stereotypes.People happen to attach more negative stigma to mental health than other way more serious diseases. The stigma around it not only affects the number of people seeking treatment but also number of resources available for proper treatment.

WAYS TO HELP:

• SHOWING INDIVIDUALS RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE removes a significant barrier which helps in coping with the illness.Its important for them to feel like they are one among us.The best way to help them is to make them feel normal and not be treated like they are ill.
• ADVOCATING WITHIN OUR CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE is ensuring that these individuals have the same rights as you or any other person.
• STAYING POSITIVE
• HELPING OTHERS
• DEVELOPING COPING SKILLS
• GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP

EARLY WARNING SIGNS:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problem in relationships
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school.

Appropriation in mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. People with mental health problems can getter and many recover completely.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a great patriot and selfless leader and popularly known as Netaji. His immense contribution to the freedom movement was highlighted in Congress’s marginal way.  This year, it’s Netaji’s 125 birth anniversary, and rightly the Government of India has declared that the Day will be celebrated as the Parakram Diwas. Yes, he was Parakram, extraordinarily brave. It is pertinent to mention that this year the Republic Day celebration has also been set to begin from 23 January instead of 24 January, a great gesture to Netaji. 

    Netaji was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack of present Odisha.   He is still respected not only in India but also in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Many Pakistani and Bangladeshi academicians told me and praised him when I was in abroad as a faculty member.

      Netaji Subhas with heart and soul was Indian and never tolerated any foreigner talking against Indians. In this context, an incident may be cited. He thrashed a British Professor E.F. Otten in the Presidency College of Calcutta in 1916 for Prof Otten’s racist remark against Indians and for this Subhas Chandra had to suffer also, however with the intervention of Indian scholars and other stalwarts the matter was resolved.

We all read about the Indian National Army/Azad Hind Fouz’s contribution under the leadership of Netaji Subhas which consisted of all religious groups and castes. Netaji was the key person to form the Rani of Jhansi regiment (women regiment) of the Indian National Army, under the commander Lakshmi Swaminathan. I believe also many have told me India would not have been divided if Azad Hind Fauz came to power. 

The Congress Government after independence always highlighted a few leaders’ contributions towards the freedom movement but not much about Netaji’s contribution. There is a controversy whether a great leader of independent India wrote a letter to Mr. Attlee, describing Subhas Chandra Bose, as a war criminal.

 Anyway the British acknowledged Subhas Bose’s contribution.  Clement Richard Attlee, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951 and the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955 agreed Netaji was the toughest challenge the British Empire faced.  In 1956, Clement Attlee came to India and stayed in Calcutta (now Kolkata) as a guest of the Governor, P.B. Chakraborty who was at that time Chief Justice of Calcutta High court and acting Governor of West Bengal. He asked Sir Attlee “… since Gandhi’s Quit India movement had tapered off quite some time ago and in 1947 no such new compelling situation had arisen that would necessitate a hasty British departure, why did they have to leave?” As stated by Chakraborty “Mr. Attlee cited several reasons, the main among them being the erosion of loyalty to the British crown among the Indian Army and Navy personnel as a result of the military activities of Subhas Chandra Bose”. 

Netaji was a good writer also. His book “The Indian Struggle, 1920–1942” is a two-part book that covers the 1920–1942 history of the Indian independence movement to end British imperial rule over India. The book was banned in India by the British government but in 1948 after independence it was published. 

Gandhiji and Netaji’s role in the independence of India was immense but many believe that Gandhiji was later on very much mentally disturbed as his eldest son Harilal was ‘derailed’. It is pertinent to mention that “in June 1935, Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Harilal, accusing him of “alcohol and debauchery”.  Mahatma Gandhi stated that Harilal’s problems were more difficult for him to deal with than the struggle for an independent India” (wikipedia.org/wiki/Harilal_Gandhi).                   

                 On the auspicious occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday, I offer my Pronam to this great soul. 

Phobias are outrageous fears of specific items or circumstances.

The term trichophobia comes from the Greek words that signify “hair” (trichos) and “fear” (phobia). An individual who has trichophobia has a constant fear of hair, especially seeing or contacting free hairs on the body, clothing, or somewhere else. This fear can prompt various side effects that might disrupt regular daily existence.

SYMPTOMS

The side effects of trichophobia are different for every individual and fluctuate according to the degree of severity. Likewise with different fears, individuals experience both physical and emotional responses because of the cause of their fears.

Children frequently experience an alternate arrangement of side effects with fears. They will most likely be unable to communicate their fear as promptly as grown-ups. Therefore, a youngster might cry, have a fit, or stick to their guardian when apprehensive.

CAUSES

Pinpointing the specific reason for trichophobia might be troublesome. The fear might come on unexpectedly or foster bit by bit over the long run. Some researchers think that it might emerge from:

• stress or nervousness
• depression or other mental health conditions, like trichotillomania
• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
• Other danger elements might make an individual more vulnerable to specific fears. They include:

• An individual might have an awful involvement in hair, hair styles, or other traumatic circumstance connected with hair, like patterned hair loss.
• Fears are known to influence youngsters and grown-ups the same. Some might appear as soon as age 10 or have a later beginning.
• Having a direct relation who likewise manages fears or nervousness may likewise put you at higher danger for creating fears yourself. This can be hereditarily acquired or a learned conduct.
•  Individuals with more delicate personalities might be at a higher danger of creating fears.
• Individuals may likewise foster fear by learning about or catching wind of awful circumstances that include the feared object.

DIAGNOSIS

In view of the symptoms depicted above, you might have the option to decide whether you have trichophobia. On the off chance that your symptoms are gentle, you may feel like the condition is sensible. For more serious symptoms that are impeding your capacity to work regularly in your day-to-day existence, it is essential to converse with your doctor. While trichophobia isn’t officially perceived by the DSM-5 as a different condition, your primary care physician might determine you to have a particular fear in view of your symptoms. The indicative rules for specific phobias are:

• Absurd, unnecessary fear
• Quick nervousness reaction to the source of the fear (for this situation, hair)
• A critical effect on an individual’s life and capacity to work
• Analysis likewise requires the symptoms to have been available for no less than a half year and not be brought about by another condition.

TREATMENT

For trichophobia, you may start by learning and rehearsing various relaxation methodologies like profound breathing and moderate muscle relaxation. Whenever you have taken in these, you may begin simply by envisioning yourself close to free hair while rehearsing those relaxation methodologies.

Then, you may continue on to a photo of free hair before dynamically working up to definitely seeing free hair or really having it on your skin or apparel. After some time, blending the relaxation reaction with the source of your fear can assist you with figuring out how to deal with your tension at whatever point you experience the feared object.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may likewise be useful to address the fundamental considerations, sentiments, and practices that can add to phobic responses.

While prescriptions are not normally demonstrated in the treatment of explicit fears, they may at times be utilized related to conduct medicines to deal with a portion of the indications of uneasiness.

In most of cases, individuals who are feeling self-destructive are managing conditions that can be reduced if they can get the guidance that they require. Meanwhile, there are lot of things that loved ones can do to assist masses who are discouraged or thinking about self-destruction.

Helping someone involves the ability to look for warning signs of suicide, which consist of:

• Outrageous emotional episodes
• Sensations of sadness
• Offering assets
• Losing interest in different activities
• Discussing demise or suicide
• Bidding farewell to loved ones
• Saying that they are a burden
• Pulling out from loved ones

Suicide is a serious issue and any suicide danger or endeavor ought to be approached in a serious way. As indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were in excess of 47,000 suicides in 2017.Coming up next are some suicide counteraction tips suggested by the non-benefit association Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

TIPS

1.On the off chance that the individual requests that you not tell anybody, know that you might need to break your guarantee to help them. Having your companion or cherished one alive yet angry with you is desirable over keeping a guarantee that prompts them ending their life.

2. It might take some tolerance and determination, however encourage them to make a meeting with a mental health professional. Whenever they have made the arrangement, keep in touch to urge them to finish with arrangements and treatment plans. There are likewise mental health associations you can contact for more data.

3. While you might be reluctant to raise the subject of suicide for fear of giving them thoughts, the truth of the matter is that those thoughts and sentiments are there paying little mind to what you may say. How you are truly treating and bringing the subject up is offering them a chance to communicate with you and this permit you to help them.

4. Assuming they appear to be in imminent danger of harming themselves, don’t let them be. Step forward and remove any means of weapon that they could use to hurt themselves, like weapons or pills.

5. Despite the fact that a few suicides might appear to emerge suddenly but there are chances that the individual had been upset or depressed for quite a while. Attempting to remove the disgrace around discouragement and empowering individuals who are harming to get the assist that they with requiring immediately can go far in saving lives in light of the fact that the issue is managed before it gets really awful.

6. Having the option to converse with a mindful companion and unburden yourself from your difficulties can go far in reducing the tension that can prompt a suicide attempt. Being a decent listener doesn’t need any unique abilities. Be patient and tolerating, however escape from getting into argument or attempting to offer shortsighted arrangements.

7. At a point when an individual commit suicide, this isn’t really a sign that they need to pass on. All things being equal, it’s a pointer that they are in extraordinary emotional pain, yet don’t have the idea how to manage it. Suicide has begun to resemble their main choice to get away from a circumstance that they don’t have the idea how to deal with. If they are alive, in any case, they are looking for an option in contrast to death and attempting suicide might be their approach to connect and say that they need assistance.

8. While you might imagine that their concerns aren’t sufficiently significant enough to warrant suicidal considerations or practices, the main thing is the manner by which they see them to be. In the event that it feels essential to them, then, suicide might appear to be a valid choice.

Above all, never ignore suicidal talk or dangers. Assuming an individual is offering remarks that appear to demonstrate that they are discouraged or considering ending their own life, you ought to consistently treat them in a serious way

Mental health is a basic and fundamental part of health. The WHO constitution states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” A significant conclusion of this definition is that mental health is something more than shortfall of mental problems or disabilities.

Mental health is a condition of well-being wherein an individual understands their own capacities, can adapt to the ordinary burdens of life, can work gainfully and can make a commitment to their local area.

Mental health is fundamental to our group and individual capacity as people might suspect, act out, communicate with one another, make money and appreciate life. On this premise, the advancement, insurance and rebuilding of mental health can be viewed as a vital concern of individuals, communities and societies throughout the world.

DETERMINANTS

Different social, psychological, and biological factors decide the degree of mental health of an individual at any point of time. For instance, brutality and determined financial tensions are perceived dangers to mental health. The clearest proof is related with sexual violence

Poor mental health is likewise connected with fast social change, distressing work conditions, gender discrimination, social rejection, unhealthy way of life, physical ill- health and common freedoms violation. There are explicit psychological and character factors that make individuals defenseless against mental health issues. Biological dangers incorporate hereditary factors.

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION

Mental health advancement includes activities that further develop psychological well-being. This might include establishing a climate that upholds mental health. A climate that regards and secures essential common, political, financial and social freedoms is fundamental to mental health. Without the security and opportunity given by these privileges, it is hard to keep an undeniable level of mental health.

National mental health arrangements ought to be concerned both with mental issues and, with more extensive issues that advance mental health. Mental health advancement ought to be mainstreamed into governmental and non-governmental approaches and projects. In addition to the health area, it is fundamental to include the schooling, work, equity, transport, climate, lodging, and government assistance areas.

Explicit ways of promoting mental health include:

• early childhood interventions
• support to children
• socio-economic empowerment of women
• social support for elderly populations
• programmes targeted at vulnerable people, including minorities, indigenous people, migrants and people affected by conflicts and disasters
• mental health promotional activities in schools
• mental health interventions at work
• violence prevention programmes
• community development programmes
• poverty reduction and social protection for the poor;
• anti-discrimination laws and campaigns;
• promotion of the rights, opportunities and care of individuals with mental disorders.

CARE AND TREATMENT

With regards to the national efforts to create and carry out mental health strategy, it is fundamental to not just ensure and advance the mental prosperity of its residents, yet in addition, address the necessities of people with characterized mental problems.

Information on how to treat the raising burden of mental problems has worked on considerably throughout the most recent ten years. There is a developing body of proof showing both the viability and cost-adequacy of key mediations for need of mental issues in nations at various degrees of financial turn of events.

• treatment of depression with psychological treatment and, for moderate to severe cases, antidepressant medicines;
• treatment of psychosis with antipsychotic medicines and psychosocial support;
• taxation of alcoholic beverages and restriction of their availability and marketing.

A variety of successful measures additionally exists for the counteraction of self-destruction, avoidance and treatment of mental problems in kids, anticipation and treatment of dementia, and treatment of substance-use issues. The mental health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) has delivered evidence-based guidance for non-experts to empower them, to more readily recognize and deal with the need of mental health conditions.

MEDIA

Media is an extremely famous form of communication. It is the method for spreading, putting away and conveying data to individuals through various sources. The term medium or media refer to the ways or choices through which data is passed. A few well-known types of media are radio, TV, paper or the most recent i.e., Internet.

Kids and media are a developing concern. Indeed, even exceptionally little youngsters in our general public get a major day by day portion of TV, computer games and music verses. While such media can give instruction and entertainment, they can likewise harm youngsters. Research shows that openness to savage media can bring about aggression and violent behaviour in certain kids and young people.

Most children today are connected to gadgets like TVs, game control center, tablets, and cell phones a long time before they can even ride a bicycle. Innovation is essential for life. Also, guardians can make innovation a sound piece of youth by showing smart media use. Pre-schoolers can get help learning the letters in order on TV, grade-schoolers can play instructive applications and games, and adolescents can do explore on the web.

But an excess of screen time can have a negative impact as:

• Kids who regularly spend over 4 hours out of each day staring at the TV or utilizing media are bound to be overweight.
• Kids who view brutality onscreen are bound to show forceful conduct, and they expect that the world is terrifying and that something awful will happen to them.
• Youngsters who play violent computer games and applications are bound to show aggressive behaviour.
• Characters on TV and in computer games frequently do hazardous practices, like smoking and drinking.

That is the reason guardians really should watch their children’s media use and put down certain boundaries to guarantee they’re not investing an excessive amount of energy before a screen.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests these rules for screen time:

• Children and babies as long as year and a half old: No screen time, however video-talking with loved ones is OK.
• Toddlers’ year and a half to two years: Some screen time with a parent or guardian.
• Pre-schoolers: No over 1 hour daily of instructive programming, along with a parent or other guardian who can assist them with getting what they’re seeing.
• Children and youngsters 5 to 18 years: Screen time for TV, web-based media, and computer games needs restricts. Chat with your teenagers, who might struggle with media limits. Media ought not replace getting sufficient rest and being physically active.

WATCHING VIOLENCE

Numerous violent demonstrations are performed by the “heroes,” whom children are educated to respect. Indeed, frequently the legend wins by battling with or killing the “bad person. “This can cause confusion among kids as they attempt to comprehend the contrast between good and bad. Small children are effortlessly scared by savage pictures. Since they don’t get what is genuine, basically letting them know that violence isn’t genuine won’t help. Conduct issues, bad dreams, and inconvenience resting may occur after kids watch brutality on screen.

Youngsters can be frightened by violent pictures as well. Chatting with kids this age will help them, so it’s vital to comfort them and disclose what they see to assist with facilitating fears. However, it’s far and away superior to not allow your children to see shows or mess around that could be terrifying.

WATCHING RISKY BEHAVIOUR

Television and computer games regularly show practices like drinking liquor, taking medications, smoking cigarettes, and having intercourse at a youthful age as cool, fun, and energizing. At a point when these things appear to be acceptable, children and teenagers may be tempted to attempt them. That may prompt substance abuse issues, and studies show that youngsters who watch loads of sexual substance are bound to begin sexual action prior.

Little youngsters don’t comprehend that advertisement are for selling an item, and some of the time they can’t differentiate between their show and the advertisement. Significantly, younger children might also need the reminder about the motivation behind promoting. Computer games are particularly loaded with pop up advertisements with strain to purchase.

WATCHING ADVERTISEMENT

You can switch off the TV or possibly limit children’s watching time, however it’s almost difficult to eliminate all openness to promoting messages.

At a point when your children request the most recent requirements, clarify that advertisements are intended to make individuals need things they likely don’t require.

OBESITY

Health specialists have since quite a while ago connected an excessive amount of screen time to obesity. At a point when they’re gazing at screens, kids are inert and will more often tend to snack. They’re likewise presented with promotions that urge them to eat unfortunate food sources like potato chips and drink void calorie sodas that regularly become most loved snack food source.

Studies show that diminishing how much TV kids watched prompted less weight gain and lower weight record (BMI). Replacing computer game time with open air game time is one more great method for assisting kids with keeping a healthy weight.

Thus, by drawing healthy lines on screen time and knowing what your kid is watching and playing, you can help make the most of your child’s media use.