Tag: Mind Matters

‘There is mental illness in every home today,’ says co-founder of a mental health startup

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The COVID-19 pandemic normalised conversations around mental health but access to care is still an issue.

“Around 200 million people suffering – today it is in every home, whether it is domestic violence, abuse, digital addiction, relationships being strained or any kind of mental illness,” Neha Kirpal, the founder of Amaha, an Indian platform for therapy, psychiatry and counselling services.

She was speaking to CNBC-TV18 on the sidelines of ‘Future Female Forward – Season 2′.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated burden of mental health problems in India is 2,443 disability-adjusted life years per 10,000 population, while the age-adjusted suicide rate for is 21.1 for every one lakh population.

Between 15-29 age group, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death. The estimated the economic loss due to mental health conditions at $1.03 trillion between 2012-2030.

Neha Kirpal, winner of the President’s Nari Shakti award, joined Amaha as a co-founder in 2019. The organisation was founded in 2016 by Dr Amit Malik. “Awareness is not a challenge, for us the idea was to help people see that they can get quality credible mental healthcare under one roof, so that they don’t waste time going pillar to post seeking that help,” Kirpal added.

Amaha has been valued at around ₹177.2 crore (about $21 million) after raising about $10 million from marquee investors like Lightbox Ventures and Hitesh Oberoi among others, according to an Entrackr report in January 2024.

Kirpal pivoted to her venture in the mental healthcare after founding and running India’s first international art fair for a decade.

Her consulting venture, Librum Ltd, was recently launched in the UK as the world’s first strategic think tank for mental health solutions. She is also the co-founder of InnerHour, which aims to improve mental healthcare access.

As a trained counsellor and mental health caregiver, Kirpal has fellowships from the Aspen Global Leadership Network and the Eisenhower organisation. Also, she is part of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders community.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

WHO has made loneliness a health priority — here’s how it plans to tackle lack of social connections

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has made loneliness a global health priority and launched a new Commission on Social Connection. The aim of the commission, which consists of 11 leading policy makers, thought leaders and advocates from across the globe, will be to address loneliness as a pressing health threat, promote social connections as a priority and accelerate the scaling up of solutions in countries of all incomes.

According to WHO, social isolation — having an insufficient number of social connections — and loneliness, the social pain of not feeling connected, are widely impacting the health and wellbeing of people across age groups around the globe.

Social isolation affects one in four older people while 5% to 15% of adolescents experiencing loneliness, the world health agency pointed out and noted that these figures are likely to be underestimations.

The impact of social isolation and loneliness is real

According to WHO, people without strong social connections are at a higher risk of stroke, anxiety, dementia, depression amongst others. It also leads to an equal or even greater risk of early death as other risk factors such as smoking, excessive drinking, obesity and more.

Being socially isolated has been linked to depression, anxiety and can increase the risk of cardiac diseases by 30%, WHO said.

Also Read: The rise of pop psychology and mental health advice on short video platforms — a quick fix or folly

The Commission formed by WHO, which will be co-chaired by US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, will hold its first leadership level meeting from December 2 to December 8 this year. The agenda of the panel has special significance at this time as per the WHO, given how the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in undermining of social connections.

For the next three years, the commission will analyse how social connections help in improving health for people of all ages and will also outline solutions to build social connections at scale

Also Read | Every second working professional is prone to mental health issues: Survey

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

The rise of pop psychology and mental health advice on short video platforms — a quick fix or folly

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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If you are on Instagram, chances are high of being besieged with viral Instagram reels of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S character Monica going frantic over perfectionism with the subtext, ‘You have OCD if you do this’ — or videos where a famous influencer vlogs about their day in one minute, blaming their reactions to situations on ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).

We’ve all been through times when we’re not feeling well, experiencing symptoms that prompt us to consult Google. In the vast world of search results, it’s easy to fall into the rabbit hole of self-diagnosis and anxiety. Sometimes, this phenomenon extends beyond physical ailments and dives into the realm of mental health, and videos on short video platforms (such as TikTok in the West) are playing an unexpected role here.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that 56 million Indians grapple with depression and anxiety disorders.

Instagram reels and YouTube shorts

Digital platforms are flooded with self-proclaimed experts and influencers who offer guidance on mental well-being. Hashtags #mentalhealthawareness and #mentalhealthadvocate garner millions of posts, uniting individuals with a shared curiosity and a desire to improve their understanding of mental health.

The data highlights a compelling trend. A survey by Hall & Partners, published in February 2023 encompassing 10,000 participants worldwide, reveals that over 59 million Americans sought health-related advice from TikTok and Instagram influencers. This trend was particularly pronounced among younger generations, with one-third of Gen Z and over a quarter of millennials turning to these platforms for insights into chronic conditions and health dilemmas. In contrast, only 5% of baby boomers explored this digital landscape for the same reason.

Within this sea of content creators, a vital question emerges: How reliable and accurate is the guidance offered? In a world where algorithms intersect with human emotions, the answers are as intricate as the individuals seeking them.

What kind of mental health advice are people getting from social media?

People often turn to social media for various forms of advice, including mental health guidance, dating tips, and advice on handling workplace stress. However, it’s important to recognize that the advice dispensed on these platforms may not be universally applicable. One-minute videos or brief posts cannot adequately address complex issues, and they can inadvertently fuel confirmation bias. This confirmation bias occurs when individuals already have a theory or belief, and they seek out content that reinforces it, potentially leading to hasty labels like narcissism or introvert behavior. Additionally, self-diagnosis based on limited online advice can be problematic, as it may not provide a holistic understanding of an individual’s unique circumstances and challenges.

According to Dr Sangeetha Reddy, a consulting psychologist based out of Hyderabad often people watch these advises and self diagnose themselves thinking that if ‘A’ person is going through something which they are also going through then both of them have same mental health issues, or if ‘A’ person is giving advises on how to manage trauma, or become outspoken then following that can help them as well which is not true.

“People should avoid any creator providing a ‘treatment’ for mental health as it’s not a one-size-fits-all concept. People should absolutely not self-diagnose on the basis of someone else’s personal experience. Yes self-help content is useful but that’s not the only solution and that cannot be a knowledge that you can acquire in a minute,” she added.

Why are people turning to social media for mental health advice?

“I have been diagnosed with mild anxiety and depression and at times I often turn to social media and willingly search for mental health videos just to feel that I am not alone. I look at the comment section and there is a sense of community,” said 19-year-old Diksha Sharma.

Twenty-year-old content creator Taneesha Mirwani also feels that since mental health, in general, is stigmatised, ‘social media therapy’ on short video platforms is often one of the only sources younger individuals have access to.

Experts say one reason for this can be the openness the platforms provide.

“With social media more and more people are talking about mental health, so many individuals tend to get attracted to such videos because they feel they are not alone. Those who might be feeling alone in their struggle might feel that they are getting the validation that they need on social media,” said Dr Reddy.

According to a 26-year-old content creator, Robin Kurian, short and edible pieces of content seem easier to consume and follow than reading up or going to therapy. Hence, people often end up following mental health advice as they hop on a social media trend.

Users are seeking bite-sized information presented to them in a minute or less to diagnose their symptoms and even find solutions. While reducing stigma, the surge in online mental health inquiries has spawned ‘pop psychology,’ which offers simplified advice for mental health but is often not scientifically backed.

The rise of pop psychology and why people follow it on social media

“People seem to think that psychology is all about band-aid situations. Like do xyz and you’ll be cured, but that is never the case. Mental health problems are unique to every individual. Stress for instance may be a common concern but the circumstances are always different. There is no one solution to stress unlike what pop psychology says. People want ‘fast’ relief, which is why pop psychology is popular,” said 26-year-old Divija Bhasin, who is counselling psychologist, content creator and founder of mental health organisation called The Friendly Couch.

Another reason behind this is the sense of relatability, according to 25-year-old content creator Prableen Kaur Bhomrah, Pop psychology videos often feature real stories and personal experiences, creating a profound sense of connection among viewers.

“This relatability allows understanding and empathy, making people more receptive to the advice and insights shared. The designation of mental health is another crucial factor. Pop psychology videos contribute significantly to breaking down societal taboos around mental health issues. By addressing these topics openly and candidly, these platforms normalise conversations about mental health,”

Apart from accessibility and relatability, another factor that prompts people, especially the younger audience, to seek social media therapy, thus leading to an explosion of pop psychology, is that social media is everywhere. According to Dr Reddy, youngsters use social media for everything. “You’ll find almost every youngster nowadays active on social media platforms, it’s not just a platform to share content, it’s now way more than that,” she added.

But how reliable is actually taking mental health advice from social media?

Social media therapy — information or misinformation?

Of course, there is a plethora of content creators putting out mental health content on social media — but is the content information or misinformation. According to Bhasin, pop psychology may make people aware of mental health as a concept, but the concept is deeply flawed and not what actual mental health is all about.

“It is harmful to individuals because they start to self-diagnose or use labels without any actual evidence, which can cause even more anxiety. I have witnessed this happen in real life with my clients,” she added.

ALSO READ | Meta’s social platforms are addictive and harm children’s mental health, claim 33 US states in lawsuit

A recent study PlushCare published in November last year, globally, the huge majority of mental health advice on TikTok — approximately 83.7% — may not be reliable. Additionally, about 14.2% of the videos contain content that could be harmful.

The study also discovered that only 9% of individuals offering mental health guidance on TikTok had proper credentials.

Another study featured in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry found that 52% of the top 100 TikTok videos discussing ADHD were found to be inaccurate or misleading.

As per experts, yet another critical issue with pop psychology is that it trivialises the real struggles of people who have disorders. With the rise of pop psychology people often start to self-diagnose and don’t actually know when they need professional help.

“Another harm is that people start trivialising the work of mental health professionals and assuming that the problems are self-treatable. This stops people from getting the professional help they need, making their problems more difficult to treat when they actually go to professionals,” added Bhasin.

Further, a study of 2,000 US adults, released in December from CharityRx, showed that 33% of Gen Zers trust TikTok more than their physician. While another 44% turn to YouTube before turning to their doctor.

Meanwhile, according to Dr Reddy, the problem with pop psychology is in the trend itself. “Putting out mental health content, or just putting a perfectionist video with a title ‘Things you’ll relate to because you have OCD’ is trendy on social media, and as it favours the algorithm, many content creators jump to this without doing proper research, resulting in trendy videos in the name of mental health advice

“People tend to believe things that aren’t true because someone relatable to them said it. They trust personal experience more than experts with fancy degrees and scientific articles. This relatability can hold more importance for some than the credentials of a medical doctor or a PhD supported by scientific research. The power of personal experience and connection that comes with social media drive people to content creators on mental health rather than to professionals.

How to verify mental health advice on social media

Experts say if the content doesn’t derive from personal experience, like a mental health struggle that a creator faced, and also is something about a particular disease or symptoms, then one should make sure to check if the psychology content is being made by a real psychologist.

So it’s best to check if the adviser has completed the minimum qualification of a master’s degree in psychology. If their qualifications are not on their Instagram page, one can find them on LinkedIn.

“Lastly, please don’t follow content that sells you something to treat your mental health and take actions,” said Dr Reddy. No tea, masala, gummies, candy perfume etc. can ‘cure’ your mental health. There are remedies that help in improvement and healing, but that takes time. Even for that please talk to a professional before taking any actions,  she added.

The role of creators

As pointed out by Dr Reddy, just to feed the algorithm frenzy, people tend to put out information on mental health which is not scientifically true. Being a content creator comes with a lot of responsibility especially when it comes to talking about topics like mental health.

Aastha Shah, herself a digital content creator, advises creators to thoroughly do their research before putting out any content on the topic, and also provide the sources used in the description.

Meanwhile, Mirwani recommends that if the creators are speaking about their own experience or what helped them, they always need to specify that this was their personal experience — which may or may not apply to whoever is watching.

“Also, content creators should be free to put out whatever content they want, but should always put a disclaimer that they are not a professional when talking about topics that would be most reliable coming from an expert,” she added.

Talking about the kind of content that creators put out, Bhomrah suggests that
creators should prioritise their language when discussing mental health, and avoid stigmatising words and embracing positive and empathetic communication to help reduce the stigma. They should also reflect the diversity of mental health experiences in their content, considering cultural, gender, and background differences. Providing links to reputable mental health resources and hotlines in video descriptions is crucial

“Furthermore, content creators should be cautious about potential triggers in their discussions, using warnings for sensitive topics and allowing viewers to prepare or skip distressing content, thus fostering a more considerate and supportive environment for mental health conversations,” she said.

Further, Bhasin says that mental health professionals should be the only ones giving out mental health information, unless it is about lived experiences.

“Content creators can help by giving a platform to mental health professionals who can give out verified information. Mental health professionals can also teach creators how to understand and read information that is evidence-based, which is a skill that everyone does not have,” she added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mind Matters | To the Brink and Back (Part-2): A rubble-strewn road to recovery

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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I continued to believe I was in Istanbul. I could see Istanbul out of the hospital window next to my bed in the post trauma ward at Paddington, London. It had now been three weeks since my near-death accident. My imagination and reality continued a raging debate.

 Byzantine Memories Of Byzantium

 My father gave me my phone, probably ten days too early. I went through my innumerable messages and decided I should start responding to my friends and family. An old friend from Amsterdam was in London for a few days, and as he usually did, messaged to see if I was free for dinner. I told him about my accident. But when he said he wanted to visit me in hospital, I said I was in Istanbul and he could visit me in a few days when I returned to London. My imagination was winning the debate.

 When he finally did come to see me at my hospital in London, he asked my family how I had ended up in Istanbul with all my injuries. My father had to explain my foray into the unconscious mind to him.

 After about a month, the mental fog lifted as I was being transferred to a rehab hospital from the trauma ward. Despite being on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the names of familiar streets and the views of the tops of buildings in my favourite city started bringing me back to reality. I finally “left” Istanbul. The road journey lasted only ten minutes, and not a few days as I had expected. I had asked to be transferred by air, but no one listened to me!

 Hitting Reset, On My Life

Now the going got even tougher. The recovery process started. Once again, I was in the front seat of my emotional roller-coaster, as I started to come to grips with what had happened to me. But I had to set that aside and focus on pushing myself physically if I could ever hope to return to a shred of my previous activity level. I missed the expertise and empathy of NHS staff.

 My whole life, I had been very physically fit. I was a 400 metre and a 110 metre hurdle champ. I loved basketball, badminton, cross-country running, scuba diving and horse riding. Importantly, I had always appreciated how difficult it is to regain a high level of fitness once one slacks off, so I had never slacked off. Now, in an odd, unsolicited twist of fate, I now have to rebuild my physical ability after major physical damage. Rebuilding is even tougher than I had thought.

 ‘Friend’ Therapy

 I still could not fully comprehend the extent of my injuries. I found fatigue – both physical and mental – overpowering. This was especially difficult for someone who had the energy of a Duracell bunny before the accident. I started receiving a steady stream of visitors. It would feel like some semblance of my life before the accident as I had always been very social. However, when my friends or family would leave, I would be left exhausted; a far cry from my old self who was energised by their good company.

 A few sets of friends tried to replicate our social interactions from before the accident. Two friends and I would catch up at our favourite restaurant in London every few weeks. These two started a ritual of bringing in food that I was craving and having our little “get togethers” in my hospital room every so often. We chatted at length as we used. It felt wonderful after the ordeal I had been through. 

 Another close friend set up an advent calendar in my room. Opening up special (and much needed!) skin care every day in the run up to Christmas kept me very enthralled. 

 Other friends were thoughtful enough to regularly ask and bring in favourite food for me and my family (who were suffering their own trauma). Doctors and therapists kept pushing me to eat more; my appetite had come back with a vengeance. My body was doing its best to rebuild.

 My colleagues started visiting. I wasn’t sure how I would handle my emotions, so I was nervous at first. Beautifully, two friends briefed colleagues who wanted to visit me. They knew I needed only positivity, inspiration and light hearted conversation. Thanks to these friends I could continue to surround myself with the energy that I required.

 My mentor for several years inspired me by giving me an award for notable courage in the face of adversity. It was a light hearted gesture. But one I found motivating at a time when doing simple everyday things was a mission. It also made me feel like I was still a part of the team despite not being able to work for a few months at that point.

 Rx: A Healthy Dose Of Laughter, As Needed

Laughter got me through many bleak days: mostly thanks to my father’s uplifting energy and general outlook, but also thanks to one of my school friends who regularly sent me specially selected jokes. It was heartwarming to find that despite meeting each other only a couple of times over the past twenty years, our shared sense of humour had evolved in the same way. It made the sense of hope and excitement I had as a teenager palpable again. 

 Along with all the thoughtfulness I was being showered with, in an attempt to be encouraging or funny — or simply because they were at a loss of anything else to say — some people would say things that would actually be frustrating. For example, before I went in for (yet!) another surgery, a friend jokingly mentioned that I must be a “surgery pro”. I was annoyed by that comment, as it was not something that I, or indeed anyone else, had ever aspired to be. Worse, it painfully reminded me of all the injuries that I was still horrified by.

 People I don’t know that well wanted to offer their piece of advice (or in their minds, ‘wisdom’); the floor seemed to be open to all. Some said, “the recovery might be tough” or “the going might be slow”, and in my mind I thought, “yes, I know! I am going through this excruciating experience every day.” Even though their intents were not misplaced, it made me realise that in situations like these, intentions should pave the way for truly listening and understanding.

 Fearing The New, Fearing Permanence

 I refused to learn to self-propel in a wheelchair as I was not ready to resign myself to being in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. The first time I experienced the outside world in something other than an ambulance, I was uncharacteristically scared. I did not relish going out in a wheelchair, and felt unsafe as traffic moved along on the road. The emotional trauma of the accident was weighing on me. I felt very unsafe.  

Edith Eger wisely said in her book The Gift, “If you’ve lived through a trauma and come out the other side, you know that surviving is only the first battle.” I was beginning to understand, first hand, what this meant.

 I found it difficult to unpause my life. I just wanted to get over this episode and live my life.

Is that even possible? 

Will life ever be the same as it was before the accident? 

Will I be able to enjoy the activities I could before the accident?

Do I have anything left in common with some of my friends? 

Will I be able to dance again? 

Heck, will the person, who enjoyed 15-kilometre walks without a second thought, be able to walk without pain again?

 Comparison: The Thief Of Joy

 As I reminisced and lamented about my level of physical activity pre-accident, I was given good advice by my physiotherapist. She very wisely told me to stop comparing my current self to my pre-accident self. Comparison is a thief of joy. This is a new life and a new me that has to be built. I found this very unsettling for a few days. I had successfully (largely) learnt to stop comparing myself to others. But now I had to stop comparing myself to myself? So, the moments of my past which brought an inadvertent smile on my lips, especially in times of distress, had to be locked away forever? What an irony!

 Acceptance, Hope… And Grief

The process of grieving started, and will take its time to conclude. I find it is important to grieve and honour what was, so that it can rest in peace. Grieving is the essence of my down days. The only way to move forward is to fully respect the past. 

 Now I have to accept my new life and try to shape it, one day at a time. The ups and downs continue. Don’t they for everyone?

I started prioritising who and what I wanted in my sphere. I was forced to focus on myself, but I chose to also focus on key people who had already — and I knew would continue — to help me through it all. The people who fully understand me  — and more importantly — take the time to actually listen rather than presume. These are the people to accompany me through this rekindled and renewed self-journey.

 The overhanging uncertainty is perhaps the most difficult aspect to deal with. Before the accident I used to naively think I knew where my life was broadly heading. Until I literally got hit out of the blue, I realised that I (but does anyone?) never really knew where my life was headed. I have been forced to take life a day at a time and not worry too much about the future or be too attached to the past. It’s far from easy to do, but it is the only way to live life now.

 Grasping Inspiration With Both Hands

 A number of close friends and loved ones had sent me heartfelt messages when they heard about my accident. In a way this felt like what they would have expressed had I not made it. While that sounds dire, I followed some good advice from my father and decided to take the best from these messages and use it to help me every day going forward. I made a collage of all these messages of love and inspiration, and framed it so that I can see it every day and bask in the warmth of the love and care that surrounds me. 

 The way I’m moving forward is through inspirational stories from those around me or out in the public. That involves watching (for the millionth time) the dedication with which my childhood hero -– Nadia Comăneci -– worked as a child to become the Olympian she is. It also includes reading books about how other people have dealt with trauma.

I particularly connected with Edith Eger’s and her patients’ experiences through trauma, and Paul Kalanithi’s story in “When Breath Becomes Air”. The spirit and will of these people continue to inspire me to keep rebuilding my life, and building new paths and bridges.

—If you wish to share your story on coping with trauma, loss, grief, anxiety and depression, do write to us at mindmatters@nw18.com

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Every second working professional is prone to mental health issues: Survey

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tired, stressed employees are quite common in any office. And research says that such employees have trouble with productivity. These are signs of poor mental health. What’s alarming, however, is the high instance of such employees in any organisation.

A survey by Mpower, an initiative by The Aditya Birla Education Trust, reveals that about 1 in 2 corporate employees are at risk of poor mental health. The poll, which covered 3,000 corporate employees from 8 cities and 10 sectors, including e-commerce, FMCG and hospitality, shows that nearly 8 in 10 employees have skipped work for at least two weeks in the past year due to mental fatigue, while 9 out of 10 employees feel they lack a work-life balance.

“A lot of people that come to me say they are working odd hours, their family life is suffering. They don’t have time for themselves. Clinically we are seeing all of that and the impact that it is having but I think for us also it was quite startling that people are now vocalising that they felt they didn’t have work-life balance,” says Dr Sapna Bangar, Psychiatrist & Head, Mpower Centre.

The survey also found that female employees are more prone to mental health issues. 56 percent of the women polled were found to be at risk, compared to just 41 percent of the males. One of the key reasons identified for this is that female employees feel they face more gender bias and stereotyping. An overwhelming 80 percent of the female respondents felt they have faced stereotypes pertaining to maternity leaves and menstrual cycles, as well as a feeling that they may put the job second once they get married.

Also read: Mental health in workplace tops agenda as now it’s back to office

India’s booming e-commerce sector ranked the highest among the 10 sectors assessed for being high-risk when it comes to mental health. 64 percent of the respondents from this sector were found to be at risk of poor mental health. The FMCG, automobile, healthcare and hospitality sectors also scored over 50 percent, making them high-risk.

So what are the predominant factors affecting mental health at the workplace? There are four: work-related stress including long working hours without breaks, problems on the home front, anxiety over finances and physical health-related concerns.

As per the survey, about half the respondents are not satisfied with their salaries, while nearly 70 percent felt they are expected to work even when on vacation. Experts say the survey highlights the pressing need for employers to create a safer work environment, identify early signs of poor mental health among employees, and normalise mental health leaves.

Also read: Treating mental health no longer means talking to a shrink — Here are other effective methods

“Start the correct work culture. Create a safe work environment where mental health is not stigmatised. Have a mental health relief policy. Encourage people to talk about mental health so it’s not stigmatised,” recommends Parveen Shaikh, VP – Operations, Mpower. “What they need to stop doing is judgement. For example, when someone says I’m really upset and if people say ‘go walk’. Stop doing that. Stop that judgment. Stop giving those unscientific solutions to somebody’s problems,” she adds.

The report by Mpower also recommends offering health and wellness programs, addressing gender inequality and promoting flexible work arrangements to ensure the mental well-being of employees.

Also read: How Indian homemakers mental health is affected by family members working from home — Expert explains

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mind Matters: Behavioural addiction increased immensely, says senior psychiatrist

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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It has never been easy to talk about suicides as a society due to stigma attached to it. It is even more difficult for society to address this problem. But for Psychiatrist Lakshmi Vijayakumar, working on this area and addressing the mental well-being of society has been a life-long journey.

In 1986, Vijayakumar founded Sneha, a suicide prevention centre. Since then, she has worked with various governments, educational institutions and other institutions to help in improving mental health and prevent suicide.

She was also instrumental in the inclusion of suicide prevention in the National Mental Health Policy of India; and also part of four-member committee that recommended the controversial ban on online games in Tamil Nadu.

In a conversation with CNBC TV18, she shares her view on various issues concerning children at large and more.

Also Read: 19 fixed dose drugs might come under the hammer today

Edited excerpts:

Q: Have you been engaging with the government on the National Strategy for suicide prevention post the recognition by the  government?

A: Yes, it is a continuous effort.

I have been urging the health secretary in writing to look at implementing the strategy.  I am informed that the secretary has written to all the states asking them to have a state-level strategy on this and develop a plan. There are plans to have a meeting with various state health secretaries on this.

Unfortunately, the draft took two years to be officially recognised. So, we will have to wait and see how long the implementation will take. Some states like Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu have started some level of work based on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS).

While there will be a state-level plan, a central coordinating body will monitor this.

Meanwhile, in some states like Tamil Nadu, the efforts to reduce suicide has taken place in form of banning of certain pesticides. Some states are adopting bits and pieces from NSPS.

Q: The IIT Council has been discussing mental health concerns among students in a more organised manner. How do you see this?

A: Around 8-9 years ago, there was a similar situation in IITs — when suicides among students were high.  At that time, the union and the Human Resource ministry had formed a committee — and I was part of it. We went to various IITs across the country and interacted with students and gave a report to IITs.

While some IITs followed the report and suggestions, others have clearly failed to follow it.

Suggestions included marking students on absolute marks and no grading; and no display of marks on notice boards — as these were triggers for many students.

We also suggested that any person who enters IIT should have a two-three weeks of orientation programme. This will help teachers and counselors understand the student better and help address their concerns after understanding their social, economic and cultural background.

Another suggestion was to get counselors among the students and not in a closed room but in a more informal or casual setting.  In addition, provide peer students and helpline numbers for distressed students.

Q: It’s been three years since the COVID outbreak. Time has passed. For over a year or more, students are back in school. Do you still see any adverse side-effects among children?

A: One silver lining during COVID was cancellation of exams,  leading to drop in exam-related suicide among students. This shows the kind of system we have. Around 500 lives were saved due to this.

But the side-effect of COVID-induced lockdown was gadget addiction. Children are unable to get away from that. In school, their academic performance and their attention has dropped. It will still take some time for these children to get into the groove.

Children are the ones who were most affected physically (poor eyesight, poor hearing, obesity etc), mentally (unable to concentrate, distracted etc) and socially (lower appetite for physical social interaction, prefer e-gaming and social networking site, etc)

In a survey with children, I found they only prefer chatting over audio calls. This is worrying.

Also Read: Mastering Your Mind: How habits impact your brain and how to rewire them

Q: You were part of the committee that suggested that online gaming should be banned in Tamil Nadu. Do you still feel ban in an answer to this problem?

A: More than 40-50 people committed suicide due to online games and so on. There is a difference between offline and online gaming. In online gaming, the temptation to play a game can arise at any point of time – there is no control on this. It can be said that one death by suicide is equivalent to 20 suicide attempt.

This is simple: if someone has to make money someone has to lose money. The most important thing here is that gambling addiction has huge repercussions and it is usually the vulnerable who fall prey to this. Most suicides are attempted and committed due to gambling addiction — more than even alcohol addiction.

In the last two years, behavioural addiction – like online gaming, internet addiction, social network addiction etc – has increased immensely. The tragedy is that one third of the children are cyber bullied. And one third of them suicidal. But no  company who can profile their users can help profile bullies and help mitigate this problem at hand.

Q: Why do you feel Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) should be repealed?

A; According to Mental Health Act, despite what is there in IPC 309, the person who committed suicide in distress should not be punished.  But IPC 309 is still there. So the stigma around it is still there. We have been trying to talk to Supreme Court judges and other experts to eliminate this section altogether.  However, there is not much that courts can do, but the power to decriminalise it lies in the purview of the government.

Also Read: Mind Matters | To the brink and back

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mind Matters | To the brink and back

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

A few months ago, London kicked me in the gut. Literally. In a split second, my life was turned upside down. Before that, I was living a full life in London. It had been home for 18 years. I had a large and varied circle of friends, a job I enjoyed, and the ability — and enthusiasm — to experience all that London has to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed theatre, the diverse dining scene, the exquisite museums and galleries, regular scenic walks in the parks, immersing myself in international cultural events, and the opportunity to pursue my childhood loves — horse riding and polo.

The Promise Of Time

The October of 2022 promised to be a great month for me. I was transitioning to the next leg of my career. I was excited to embark on a path where I would gain new insights, learn from the best, and successfully build the second half of my career doing something I am extremely passionate about. My good life was about to become even better!

So, I knew without a doubt that this was also the perfect time to do something that had been on my bucket list for over a decade: seeing silverback gorillas in their natural habitat. I was fully geared up to travel to Rwanda, and to the famed Virunga National Park.

Blink, And It’s Gone…

With my dream trip just days away, I stepped out to run an errand. The next thing I remember is waking up in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital, unable to move. I later learnt a few weeks had passed since I decided to run that errand. In my bedridden state, I painfully started to discover the extent of my severe, life-changing injuries.

Weeks later, I understood that while running errands I was on the pavement and was a victim of a life-threatening road accident. The situation was critical, with six ambulances rushing to the scene as my life was slipping away.

The Hands That Heal

I was losing a lot of blood, and since my blood pressure was falling to dangerous levels, the first responders induced a coma right there on the pavement. They also administered two blood transfusions. I was declared a code red medical emergency.

As I was being rushed to a major trauma hospital, I was administered four further blood transfusions. Surgeons worked tirelessly to fight for my life. In any other city, I might not have survived. London brought me back to life. The dedication of the first responders, police and NHS staff kept me from going over the cliff.

My Mind, My Shield

Much to the agony of my loved ones, I remained in a coma for 10 days. Through this time, my life hung in the balance as I underwent multiple surgeries to fix extensive broken bones and repair major damage to my organs.

I did not know it at the time, but as I lay comatose, my unconscious mind helped keep me alive. It took me back to moments of nostalgia; moments where my past and my present collided in inexplicable ways. It cocooned me, defending my identity from the massive trauma I had suffered.

While I was in a coma, my unconscious mind knew something terrible had happened to me, but not what exactly. I believed I was in a wheelchair in an emergency room in a hospital in Houston, US, where my cousin who is an ICU Pulmonologist, had come to pick me up. In reality, I lay in a hospital bed in London, and that cousin had flown in to ensure I was receiving appropriate care. I later learnt she had had to leave before I woke up. Interestingly, even comatose, I was aware of her presence.

At another point in time, I felt I was in the back of a cold storage lorry, being ferried to northern Europe. I was confused and very cold, wondering why I was there. I panicked, wondering what was going to happen to me. In reality, I was probably under general anaesthesia (during which the body becomes very cold) and I was being taken into surgery.

The Ghost Of A Memory?

For a prolonged period, in my unconscious mind, I was on INS Vikrant (an Indian naval aircraft carrier) that sailed from New York to Istanbul. Given I am a naval aviator’s daughter who grew up on naval bases and have been aboard INS Vikrant when I was about eight, I now realise that my unconscious mind was keeping me in a very safe environment.

I was on the biggest Indian Naval Ship, being operated on by the best surgeons. Two of the senior-most officers in the Indian Navy were personally concerned about me, and taking very good care of me. I was in awe of the Captain, who I found to be profoundly wise. People on the ship asked him existential questions and his answers left me in awe of the depth of his wisdom and intellect.

The Captain was not a man who had to assert his leadership in any manner. He had a distinctive aura about him, which along with his innate wisdom inspired everyone around him. This gentleman, who was perhaps a figment of my imagination, ended up being my greatest source of strength during my most adverse of times. His words and wisdom were part and parcel of my hopes, shining light as I traversed through a dark path of deep despair.

In reality, I was in an NHS ICU trauma ward, reeling under tremendous pain and agony. I was very frustrated and stressed and felt like I was imprisoned. In hindsight, this was most likely due to the extreme duress my body was under… and the fact that I could not do simple things like lift my head up, or move my hand. I wanted to “escape” from this hospital. I am told I asked numerous loved ones multiple times to help me hop into a taxi. Of course, none of them could do that.

The Mind Heals… Slowly.

I awoke, but the recovery was long. At one point, a team of surgeons came to review my progress and the lead surgeon asked me grounding questions such as my name and my date of birth. When I got those right, he asked whether I remembered what had happened to me.

I replied, “I was on a horse and a car hit the horse and I fell and hurt myself”. I now realise this was a version of events my unconscious mind had concocted, maybe as a way to protect me by displacing my injuries onto another being, albeit one I love. The surgeon (very wisely, I understand now) responded, “Oh, I hope the horse is OK”.

A Blended Reality

Uncannily, despite being partially delirious, I was very aware of major events that were supposed to happen in my life such as starting my new role at work and my travel schedule for November. I didn’t fully appreciate the extent of my injuries. I thought I could continue with my life and schedule: I was due to travel to Mumbai for work in mid-November. When I raised this ‘travel plan’ with my mother, she informed me that I would need consent from my senior doctors to be able to fly.

I tried to get that consent but, unsurprisingly now, to no avail. How difficult it would have been for a mother, to see her own child in a state of tremendous pain, yet holding on to the optimism of her present reality? But that is a question for another day.

Daddy’s Little Girl, Always

It is said the bond between a father and a daughter is one of the purest there is. My dad had always been — and continues to be — a staunch pillar of support in my life. As I was coming out of my coma, I vividly remember reaching out to him and asking him to put his hand on my forehead and tuck me into bed. Not once, not twice. I did this every time I would get any semblance of my senses back.

Perhaps I wanted to feel the comforting touch of the familiar hand that was instrumental in shaping my beliefs and my values. Perhaps I was hoping that a man who, when I was a child, always had all the answers to all my questions, could help me understand why I was destined to be in this state.

Blood Is Life

About a week after I was brought out of my coma, I underwent an intense 12-hour surgery. My sedated mind was very active during the procedure — but that is another long story (and potentially a study for psychologists) in itself. Suffice it to say that at that point I was panicking about the multiple surgeries I had been subjected to.

A day or two after, I could see blood seeping through my bandages. The team handling my reconstructive surgeries came to see me, and I exclaimed that I was worried. The head surgeon replied, “Komal, blood is a sign of life.” I was confused then. Now, knowing the details of the microsurgery they had carried out, I understand what he meant. In either case, it was — and remains — a very profound thing to say, in my opinion.

Escaping Reality To Escape Pain

While I continue to struggle to come to terms with reality — one that I definitely did not sign up for — there are moments I experienced which help me endure what I am going through. One such incident happened as I drifted in and out of consciousness for over a month.

One fine morning, I woke up emphatically believing I was in Istanbul. I refused to see or acknowledge any proof that I was still in London. My doctors were worried at the time: I had lost nearly 20 percent of my body weight, and I was barely eating anything. One day during the Istanbul phase, one of my primary surgeons was passing by and asked me what I was going to eat for lunch. I said I had asked my father to bring me a falafel. As he dashed about the ward, he quipped, “Komal, you can do better than that!” Being genuinely surprised at his response, I was quick to reply, “I’m in Istanbul, I HAVE TO eat good falafel.”

It’s Not Living If There’s No Humour

Amongst many other experiences, one that is etched forever in my memory was the day I was getting discharged from the NHS major trauma hospital. My head doctor, who had dropped by to review my progress said, “Komal, I’m so pleased you are looking better now than you were a week ago.” By then I was on fairly friendly terms with him. I replied, “What are you talking about? You see me howling for a few hours every morning.”

“Komal,” he said, “I am a trauma doctor. If you were doing anything else, I would be worried.”

His response is not something I think I will ever forget.

(If you wish to share your story on coping with trauma, loss, grief, anxiety and depression, do write to us at mindmatters@nw18.com)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

World Mental Health Day: 5 measures employers can take to ensure mental well-being of employees

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Poor mental health and stress at the workplace can physically manifest itself in a range of illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It can also burn out employees, affecting their ability to contribute meaningfully to their work.

As mental health problems impact employers and businesses through increased absenteeism and have a negative impact on productivity, it is important to take a few measures in the workplace to ensure the mental well-being of employees.

Here’s a look at what employers can do.

Give more control over work

According to research, having less discretion over how work gets done not only negatively impacts an employee’s mental health but is also associated with higher rates of heart disease. Introducing small changes in worker autonomy can help the employee’s overall well-being. A study in a customer service call centre showed that employees who were given the training to take on new tasks and resolve more customer complaints on their own performed better on the job, Harvard Business Review reported.

Also Read: Mental health in workplace tops agenda as now it’s back to office

Adequate staffing

Long hours of work and high demand can have a substantial toll on employee health and well-being. Employers can maintain enough staff to ensure that the workload is spread out. This will also ensure that the employees do not get exhausted or burn out.

Support employees

Supervisors could be more supportive towards employees who are also caregivers for children or elderly parents at home. A study revealed that employees whose managers were more supportive of their family needs had fewer risk factors for heart disease and also slept better.

Promote work-life balance

Employers can encourage staffers to take breaks in between work and also allow them to take time off without judgement. This way they can build flexibility into their office culture. Employees feel valued and safe in such environments

Also Read: How much India spends on mental health

Mental health coverage

Earlier, health insurance only covered physical health. However, as directed by insurance regulator IRDAI, health insurance providers now cover in-patient hospitalisation expenses for mental illnesses. Apart from mental illness coverage, new-age health insurance providers also offer mental wellness sessions and related workshops to ensure that employees learn about mental health challenges.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow