HEALTH VS COVID
BY : NEHA SHAHAB
THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC IS A MAJOR HEALTH CRISIS THAT HAS CHANGED THE LIFE OF MILLIONS GLOBALLY. THE PANDEMIC HAS LED A HUGE IMPACT ON PEOPLE 'S MENTAL HEALTH BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE.
THE WHO ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 75% INDIA'S SUFFER FROM SOME MENTAL HEALTH / DISORDER. IT ADDS 56 MILLION INDIANS SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION AND ANOTHER 38 MILLION SUFFER FROM ANXIETY DISORDER.
INDIA ACCOUNTS FOR 36.6%OF SUICIDE GLOBALLY. ALMOST EVERY OTHER PERSON DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS SUFFERED FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE BE IT DUE TO LOSS OF JOB , A LOVED ONE , OR EVEN SOCIAL ISOLATION.
THE POSITIVE POINT LOCKDOWN HAVE GIVEN SOME PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FROM HOME , ENABLING THEM TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY AND BUILD RELATIONSHIP. THIS CAN ENHANCE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AND A FEELING OF CONTENTMENT. BUT THIS IS THE STORY OF ONLY A SMALL SECTION OF THE POPULATION. THE LARGER POPULATION IS FACING A STRONG NEGATIVE IMPACT OF PANDEMIC ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
INDIA LOSE ITS MENTAL HEALTH IS THE LACK OF AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY ABOUT THE ISSUE. THERE IS A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE IN INDIA. SITUATION IN INDIA DEMANDS ACTIVE POLICY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION BY THE GOVERNMENT.
TO REDUCE THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH , WE NEED TO MEASURE TO TRAIN AND SENSITIZE THE COMMUNITY / SOCIETY. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE PERSISTENT NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO EDUCATE THE SOCIETY ABOUT MENTAL DISEASES.
