Do not lose hope, please believe that there are thousands of beautiful things waiting for you. Sunshine comes to all who feel rain. -R.M. Drake
After staring at her painted toenails, she finally raised her head to look up at him. They were standing by the lake on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. They had just gone for a bite to eat at their favorite Greek restaurant. All during the meal, she wrestled with herself. Should I tell him today or wait a while longer? They had been dating for a while now and things were becoming serious between them. He had a right to know. If there was to be any future together, there could be no secrets between them.
“Ishmael, I have something to tell you.”
He looked a bit concerned. “What is it?” he asked gently.
She took a deep breath. “I suffer from bi-polar disorder.” There, she said it. Her heart pounded as she waited for his response. Would he act all strange or come up with some excuse and walk away and out of her life? It had happened before with other guys. She hoped that he would be different.
An expression of relief came over his face. “Is that all?” he exclaimed. “I thought you were going to tell me that it’s over between us.”
She stared at him. “You mean you don’t mind…?”
He shook his head. “No. Mental illness isn’t something to be ashamed of. And it doesn’t define you. I look at you and still see the amazing woman I fell in love with a year ago.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I was afraid to tell you but you had a right to know.”
He reached out and drew her closer, his thumb caressed her cheek as he rested his forehead against hers. “You have nothing to be afraid of where I’m concerned, okay?” he assured her.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak just then.
“I have something I need to ask you,” he said, raising his head.
She looked at him, curious. “What is it?” she asked.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he got down on one knee, fished out a little black box from his jeans pocket and holding it out for her to see as he opened it to reveal an exquisite diamond and gold ring. “Nadya, will you marry me?”
Nadya began to cry and in between the sobs, she managed to say, “Yes!”
Grinning broadly, Ishmael slipped it on her finger, kissed it and then got to his feet. Cupping her face between his hands, he kissed her.
She put her arms around his waist and kissed him back, her heart almost bursting. At that moment the sun began to shine.
January 30th is Bell Let’s Talk Day when Canadians and people around the globe join the world’s largest conversation about mental health. The impact has been great. Overall, 87% of Canadians say they are more aware of mental health issues than they were a few years ago. Additionally, 85% think attitudes about mental health have changed for the better and 75% believe the stigma around mental illness has been reduced. The numbers are even more impressive among young people aged 18-24: 88% think attitudes are better and 77% believe stigma has been reduced – BCE
Mental illness is something that affects everyone in some fashion and there always needs to be a conversation. I have been personally affected by it. My sister has bipolar disorder as did two deceased cousins. I knew two co-workers who had it as well. Those who have it need to know that they have support.
It isn’t something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. There is awareness and an ongoing conversation. And most importantly, there is help.
There isn’t anybody out there who doesn’t have a mental health issue, whether it’s depression, anxiety, or how to cope with relationships. Having OCD is not an embarrassment anymore – for me. Just know that there is help and your life could be better if you go out and seek the help.” – Howie Mandel
“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” – Glenn Close
“It doesn’t have to take over your life, it doesn’t have to define you as a person, it’s just important that you ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness.” — Demi Lovato
This month, WHO launched a one-year campaign Depression: let’s talk. The goal of the campaign is that more people with depression, in all countries, seek and get help.
Depression is an illness that can happen to anybody. It causes mental anguish and affects people’s ability to carry out everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends. At worst, depression can lead to suicide. Fortunately depression can be prevented and treated. A better understanding of what depression is, and how it can be prevented and treated, will help reduce the stigma associated with the condition, and lead to more people seeking help.
Depression is a common mental disorder that affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries.
Overcoming the stigma often associated with depression will lead to more people getting help.
Talking with people you trust can be a first step towards recovery from depression.
Perhaps you are suffering from depression or know someone who is. Here are ways you can get involved:
Handouts – WHO has handouts which provide information on depression to increase our understanding of the condition and how it can be prevented and treated. The handouts can be downloaded here
Organize an activity – According to WHO, organizing an activity or event is a great way to raise awareness about depression and stimulate action, both among individuals, and on a wider scale. The organization recommends that if you decide to organize an event, to keep the following in mind:
What are you trying to achieve?
Who are you targeting?
What would make your target audiences want to participate?
When and where will your activity be held?
Should you join up with other organizations?
Who will you invite? Are there any well-known figures who could help you achieve your goals?
Do you have the resources to achieve your goals? If not, how can you mobilize them?
How will you promote your event?
Can the media help you achieve your goals? If so, which media should you target?
How will you share information about your activities after the event?
How will you measure success?
WHO offers other examples of activities that you may want to consider such as: discussion forums, sporting events, workshops for journalists, art competitions, coffee mornings, concerts, sponsored activities ̶ anything that contributes to a better understanding of depression and how it can be prevented and treated.
The primary hashtag that /WHO is using for the campaign is #LetsTalk but look out for posts using #depression and #mentalhealth as well.
You are encouraged to share WHO’s posts with your own networks, share your own materials and join discussions on issues related to the campaign.
Information about depression
If you are organizing an activity, or developing your own campaign materials, here are some facts and figures that you might want to use:
Common mental disorders are increasing worldwide. Between 1990 and 2013, the number of people suffering from depression and/or anxiety increased by nearly 50%. Close to 10% of the world’s population is affected by one or both of these conditions. Depression alone accounts for 10% of years lived with disability globally.
In humanitarian emergencies and ongoing conflict, as many as 1 in 5 people are affected by depression and anxiety.
Depression increases the risk of other noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease increase the risk of depression.
Depression in women following childbirth can affect the development of new-borns.
In many countries of the world, there is no, or very little, support available for people with mental health disorders. Even in high-income countries, nearly 50% of people with depression do not get treatment.
Lack of treatment for common mental disorders has a high economic cost: new evidence from a study led by WHO shows that depression and anxiety disorders alone cost more than a trillion dollars’ worth of economic loss every year.
The most common mental health disorders can be prevented and treated, at relatively low cost (WHO).
It’s hard to imagine that there are people out there who are suffering with depression but are hiding it. They are putting up a brave front while they are hurting inside. No one can see the sadness behind their smiles. We must provide the atmosphere where people suffering from depression will feel safe and comfortable talking about their struggles. Depression should be talked about and often. Talking and just letting it all out can be therapeutic and can lead to early recovery.
More than 50 million people in India suffer from a mental illness. In 2011, India recorded the highest rate of major depression in the world at 36 per cent. According to doctors, roughly 10 per cent of India’s population suffers from depression – MGMH
Women with mental illness are treated as less than human. They are dumped, abandoned and abused. If there are any signs of mental illness, a woman is put in a mental hospital with no chance of getting out. Men can go back home while women are there for life. In the following video, we meet a woman whose husband had her institutionalized although she had no history of mental illness. Here’s a story of a mentally ill woman whose husband built a case against her so that he could get custody of their children after divorcing her.
It is not surprising that women suffer from depression at higher rates than men. They have to deal with gender inequality, violence, lack of paid employment, lack of education, excessive spousal alcohol use and poverty. Mothers are blamed for the birth of a female child and many face pressure to have male children. Women are diagnosed with schizophrenia later in life, oftentimes, following the birth of their children. The children are often removed from the ill mother’s care and this results in further distress for her. Indian women have higher rates of suicide than women in most developed countries and a higher rate of suicide compared to men in India. Depression is one of the most common reasons for suicide among Indian women.
Mental health in India carries with it a stigma, especially if the person suffering from mental illness is a woman. According to MGMH (Movement for Global Mental Health), in rural India, it is common to see people taking their children to temples and faith-healers instead of hospitals and doctors, especially in cases of mental health. Mental health was something that was talked about in hushed tones. Thankfully, it is no longer being swept under the rug. People are coming forward. Deepika Padukone stunned her fans last year when she admitted that she suffered from anxiety and depression.
At the time the news broke, she was one of the most sought after actresses in Bollywood. It took tremendous courage for her to disclose her illness, especially since people diagnosed with mental illness face discrimination. Deepika has since launched the Live Love Laugh Foundation to raise awareness about mental health issues and as a result many celebrities were inspired to come out in the open and address the need to talk about mental health. Varun Dhawan admitted that he was depressed during the making of Badlapur and Honey Singh revealed that he has been undergoing therapy for bipolar disorder.
Sadly, those living with mental illness are victims of a cruel fate. They are often locked away and stripped of their basic human rights in state-run institutions that are under-staffed. In an article, titled Mentally Ill Suffer a Horrible Fate in India posted on the site for Deutsche Welle (DW), most state run mental hospitals are in deplorable conditions. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported that out of the 43 government mental hospitals in India, less than half a dozen are in a “livable” condition”.
There are doctors in charge of these hospitals who have no business being there. “These doctors don’t understand the intricacies of a psychiatric illnesses and the comprehensive care the patients require,” said a psychiatrist working in a state-run mental hospital in Uttar Pradesh.
And in the midst of the crisis of hospitals not providing the conditions and care the patients need, are quack healers who are profiting from this. According to a study by Dr. Shiv Gautam, former superintendent of Jaipur Mental Hospital, 68 per cent of the mentally ill are taken to faith healers before a psychiatrist. “The reason, besides superstition, is that most general medicine doctors fail to diagnose psychiatric illness,” Gautam said. “A mentally ill patient displays symptoms which superstitious people believe are paranormal,” he added. “Such patients are tortured, chained and used for extracting money from their families.” Hema, who was suffering from Schizophrenia was believed to have an evil spirit. Her family took her to Datar Sharif Dargah where she spent a year locked up. It wasn’t until her condition deteriorated that she was brought to Dr. Gautam. In 15 days, she began to improve and a month later she was normal.
In other cases, the mentally ill are subjected to one of these horrific ordeals: whipping, caning, inhaling burnt chili smoke, having their eyes smeared with chili paste or having their eyes branded with red, hot coins. There are laws banning this practice, however, many dargahs and temples keep the patients chained. Some of them spend the rest of their lives like this. In 2001, 26 patients perished in a fire at a dargah in a coastal village because they couldn’t escape the blaze since they were chained. What a horrific and senseless tragedy.
Families of mentally ill people opt for dumping them. This means that they are dumped into an asylum where the conditions are not fit for a human. When an illegal asylum was raided, they found thirty-five men and six boys living in inhuman conditions. The stench from their unwashed bodies and the excrement drove neighbors to alert the health department. Naked and chained inmates were discovered, dumped there by their families after they paid the asylum owner. Some of these poor souls were found crawling in their excrement, some even consuming it. On their bodies were marks of torture. Some had surgical scars on their backs, leading to allegations that the asylum had links to kidney theft. 78 patients had entered the asylum but only 41 were found during the raid.
Other patients are dumped in jungles or forests ranges. Their families pay lorry drivers to drop them. Women and children are among these victims and in some cases, the females are raped by the drivers before being dumped. Social activist Murugan S. who has rescued countless mentally ill people from the streets, cautions us not to judge the families by calling them cruel. Instead we are to examine what forced them to take such extreme measures. He believes that system needs to change.
Part of the solution is raising awareness. The suffering of the mentally ill has been brought to our attention. It is out in the open. The next thing that needs to be done is to show the superstitious and fearful society that mental illness is nothing to run away from or to be ashamed of. The person suffering from mental illness needs love, support and most importantly, proper care so that he or she can live a normal life.
The government needs to put something place to ensure that patients are placed in reputable, sanitary facilities that will provide the care that they need and to ban the operation of illegal asylums and the practice of dumping. Quack healers should be banned from profiting from other people’s suffering. Husbands should not be allowed to institutionalize their wives if there is no record that they have mental illness.
No one wants to be mentally ill but it is a reality for many people and what they need is to know that they have a platform where they can talk about what is happening with them. Here in Canada, we have Bell Let’s Talk, a wide-reaching, multi-year program designed to break the silence around mental illness and support mental health all across the country. It has done so much to fight the stigma of mental illness and encourage people to get involved in educating themselves and others.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that something will be put in place in India so that attitudes toward mental illness would change and those suffering from it will have a platform where they would not be judged, dumped, abandoned or discriminated but supported and be treated with dignity and open minds. In the meantime, let’s keep talking and raising awareness.
Talking is the best way to start breaking down the barriers associated with mental illness – Bell, Let’s Talk
