Don’t hide depression, says expert

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 10

Every year October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme for the day is “Mental Health in an unequal world”.

Till now, mental health remains to be one of the neglected areas because of social stigma attached to it and also less awareness regarding its importance. Presently Covid-19 has cast a major impact on the mental health of people. The worst affected are students, frontline workers and the elderly.

“Covid-19 has caused severe damage to people worldwide after they lost their loved ones, jobs, faced financial issues, poor health, isolation, lockdown and anxiety. Cases of depression and anxiety have increased tremendously since the onset of pandemic,” said Dr Rajeev Gupta, a city -based psychiatrist.

Another city-based clinical psychiatrist further added that Covid-19 had turned the world of academics upside down. Both students and parents faced the anxiety that arose due to work from home, he said.

“With schools slowly opening we are hopeful that lifestyle is going to change once again. Students must be counselled for what lies ahead and renegotiate their relationship with the outside world,” he added.

A workshop for creating mental health awareness was held at the Civil Hospital today. Addressing the workshop, Dr Vivek Goyal, psychiatrist from the Civil Hospital said, “Depression is not a matter of feeling down for a while, but it has long term consequences. Depression and anxiety should not be kept under fold, but should be discussed so that it can be treated at the right time.”

“Despite awareness depression is still an issue people don’t like to talk about. One should come out in open and talk about it, seek help and should be encouraged to seek help too,” Dr Goyal added.