He had everything any teenager could ever ask for — a loving family, good grades in school, supportive friends to hang out with, and above all, grand dreams for his future. Being an overachiever, getting into a prestigious college abroad was a cakewalk for him. So, off he went beyond the seas to give wings to his dreams. A few months into college, he found himself unable to concentrate, and to remember things. He started making notes for himself, about 50 - 60 a day! Suicidal thoughts slowly started creeping in. He hoped every plane he boarded, crashed. He soon realised he couldn't do anything. He found himself forever sad, forever worked up about things. One fine day, he chucked everything and came back home...
Well, that's Arnav's story in a nutshell. Wondering what was wrong with him? Well, he was clinically depressed. Yes, the serious, but treatable medical condition that is very often mistaken for personal weakness. Unfortunately, the awareness level about this medical condition is abysmally low. Not many of us even know that one in seven people in our country are depressed; that depression can strike anybody without any rhyme or reason. Like it did to Arnav. There are many more Arnavs out there, silently suffering, not knowing what or why they are feeling so. Depression is erroneously attributed to sadness, a phase that fades out soon. In some cases, even if the family recognises the problem, they rarely seek help owing to the social stigma associated with mental health problems.
"It's about time people realised that depression is a serious medical condition and that it needs to be treated like any other infection. The statistics are shocking, to say the least — India has the risk of being the most depressed country in the world; about 40 per cent of India carries a gene that makes us vulnerable to depression. However, it was not always like this. This rise in the rate of depression has happened over the last 15-20 years. Urbanisation and westernisation post liberalisation are the main culprits," says Dr Shyam K Bhat, psychiatrist, integrative medicine specialist, and writer.
Unfortunately, mental health and the concerns associated with it are the most misunderstood terms of our time. People who suffer from it are also feared and stigmatised by society due to the lack of knowledge and research. However, the truth that mental health issues are more common than we realise cannot be denied. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition every year. And, one in 20 individuals lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Also, globally, more than 350 million people experience depression alone. And, women develop depression twice as often as men.
Life, interrupted
What could be the triggers, you may wonder. "It could be anything — genetic, biological or environmental; loneliness, isolation, dissatisfaction; physical factors such as diet, exercise, pollution, fast food... In women, it could be probably due to the changes in hormone levels. The key lies in identifying the problem. Some deep-seated issues from childhood could also be the reason. Stress is another major trigger. When depression hits, brain starts behaving differently, and the problem can manifest itself in strange ways like sleeplessness, the inability to sit still even for a few minutes, the feeling of helplessness, and so on. But the pain can be as real as in a fracture. Most cases of suicide are also a direct manifestation of depression," says Dr Bhat.
No wonder, Arnav couldn't concentrate on his studies. No wonder, he felt there was no hope for him. No wonder, he felt suicidal.
Abhijeet's case is no different. Born into a successful business family, he had nothing to worry about. But, when he was 28, drastic financial mishaps in his life cast their dark shadow on his otherwise perfect world. He found himself experiencing relationship issues with his parents; he started questioning himself and his every decision; he found himself sadder and sadder all the time. The worst part was, he knew there was a happier version of himself somewhere within, but couldn't locate it. Finding himself in a dark and sad place, he was struggling to free himself…
And, who can forget famous Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's case. In her own words, "It all began on February 15, 2014. I woke up that morning with a sick pit-ish feeling in my stomach. On one hand, I was doing extremely well professionally, but on the other, I felt low, empty and directionless. The worst part was that I couldn't understand what was happening to me. Waking up every morning had become a struggle. It was clearly the toughest year of my life…"
Well, it is as simple as that. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Not restricted to any age bracket, or gender, or social standing. We are all just as vulnerable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the next big epidemic to hit the world!
You are not alone
"However, most people hesitate to seek help for the simple reason that anything associated with mental health is mistaken for mental instability or madness. For that matter, a layperson dismisses depression with 'Don't worry, it's just a passing phase. Have a cup of hot coffee, cheer up.' But, only those who are affected by it know it's insufferable. The general tendency is to sweep it under the carpet. Only an expert knows it's a disease like any other, curable if treated right," says Anna Chandy, the first supervising and training Transactional Analyst in counselling.
As the awareness level in the country is abysmally low, about 25 per cent of those affected by depression silently suffer, without seeking help. In the West, there are counselling centres, hotlines, group therapies and expert advice for people to cope with depression. In fact, going to a counsellor or a psychiatrist is as common as visiting the grocer. But in India, it is hardly so. Isn't it about time we started seeing the problem for what it is and consulted the experts?
"Depression is totally curable. Since it involves a chemical imbalance, it requires medication or therapy, and in some cases, both. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the chances of an early recovery. Untreated depression can sometimes lead to more severe conditions where medication or therapy might not help. With some careful attention and lifestyle changes, depression can be a thing of the past," says Dr Bhat.
However, at this point, it is pertinent to mention that depression is not a modern problem. A sneak peek into history reveals that it has always been there, only it was called 'melancholia' then. The earliest accounts of melancholia can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamian texts in the second millennium BC. However, melancholia was then treated as a spiritual or mental illness where the person afflicted with it was believed to have been possessed by demons. There are also records of Greek historian Herodotus's writings in the 5th century BC, where there's a mention of a king who was driven mad by evil spirits. The same was the case with early Babylonian, Chinese and Egyptian civilisations where exorcism techniques were used to 'treat' melancholia.
We have definitely come a long way. Glad to share that Arnav, Abhijeet and Deepika had the courage to fight their mind's demons with a little help from counsellors and psychiatrists. Today, they are not only out of depression, but also happier human beings. They speak about their personal struggles openly to encourage people to come out and talk about depression as they do about other physical maladies.
"Why not? If your car breaks down, you cannot fix it yourself. You need to go to an expert. Similarly, when you have a problem, why not see a counsellor or a psychiatrist," asks Abhijeet, who had the presence of mind to seek help as soon as he realised his life was falling apart for no fault of his. "Experts helped me put things in perspective, giving me the clarity to make some difficult decisions that helped me come out of my problems. For me, happiness was the final goal. With regular sessions, I have turned the corner. Today, I have realised I am not alone. Just because things are difficult at some point in life, doesn't mean they will always be. It is possible to overcome the condition; all it takes is a little willpower and some help," he adds.
Heartening words, indeed. But, along with the lack of knowledge and research in matters relating to depression, the country is also grappling with the shortage of mental health professionals. Despite the large number of people who require mental health attention, India has only around 3,500 trained psychiatrists, and even fewer psychologists. However, finding the right counsellor and psychiatrist is also of paramount importance, as Arnav realised.
Hope reigns supreme
"Some mental health experts too faltered before zeroing in on the exact reason for my extreme sadness. Today, thanks to my counsellor and the psychiatrist, I have regained my confidence in myself. I have matured so much in the last one year since I sought help that I see the bigger picture now. A person who couldn't earlier sit still even for a few minutes can now confidently say that it feels good to peacefully sit for 10 minutes without being bombarded with thoughts," says Arnav.
The bottom line is obvious. Depression is a serious problem, and it's high time we acknowledged it. Ask Anna as to why people hesitate to admit that they have a problem, and she says, "The reasons are aplenty. Among the young, it could be the fear of being branded 'crazy'; among corporates, it could be the fear of losing their job, their livelihood. So, with hardly any options left, they prefer to silently suffer."
Here's another shocker — According to WHO, the average age when depression strikes is 31.9. But, in some, the symptoms surface early. "For some of my clients, the symptoms have shown when they were as young as 15-16 years of age, but were mistaken for the usual problems associated with adolescence, or laziness. It is sad but true that many doctors in India are incompetent to handle mental illnesses in their practice," says Anna.
In such a scenario, who do we turn to for help? There are several organisations working around mental health in the country, both in urban and rural areas, and doing phenomenal work, the most recent one being The Live Love Laugh Foundation founded by Deepika Padukone last year.
Here's hoping all the endeavours to raise awareness about depression bear fruit and India continues to live, love and laugh happily ever after.
(Some names have been changed to protect identity)
Well, that's Arnav's story in a nutshell. Wondering what was wrong with him? Well, he was clinically depressed. Yes, the serious, but treatable medical condition that is very often mistaken for personal weakness. Unfortunately, the awareness level about this medical condition is abysmally low. Not many of us even know that one in seven people in our country are depressed; that depression can strike anybody without any rhyme or reason. Like it did to Arnav. There are many more Arnavs out there, silently suffering, not knowing what or why they are feeling so. Depression is erroneously attributed to sadness, a phase that fades out soon. In some cases, even if the family recognises the problem, they rarely seek help owing to the social stigma associated with mental health problems.
"It's about time people realised that depression is a serious medical condition and that it needs to be treated like any other infection. The statistics are shocking, to say the least — India has the risk of being the most depressed country in the world; about 40 per cent of India carries a gene that makes us vulnerable to depression. However, it was not always like this. This rise in the rate of depression has happened over the last 15-20 years. Urbanisation and westernisation post liberalisation are the main culprits," says Dr Shyam K Bhat, psychiatrist, integrative medicine specialist, and writer.
Unfortunately, mental health and the concerns associated with it are the most misunderstood terms of our time. People who suffer from it are also feared and stigmatised by society due to the lack of knowledge and research. However, the truth that mental health issues are more common than we realise cannot be denied. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition every year. And, one in 20 individuals lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Also, globally, more than 350 million people experience depression alone. And, women develop depression twice as often as men.
Life, interrupted
What could be the triggers, you may wonder. "It could be anything — genetic, biological or environmental; loneliness, isolation, dissatisfaction; physical factors such as diet, exercise, pollution, fast food... In women, it could be probably due to the changes in hormone levels. The key lies in identifying the problem. Some deep-seated issues from childhood could also be the reason. Stress is another major trigger. When depression hits, brain starts behaving differently, and the problem can manifest itself in strange ways like sleeplessness, the inability to sit still even for a few minutes, the feeling of helplessness, and so on. But the pain can be as real as in a fracture. Most cases of suicide are also a direct manifestation of depression," says Dr Bhat.
No wonder, Arnav couldn't concentrate on his studies. No wonder, he felt there was no hope for him. No wonder, he felt suicidal.
Abhijeet's case is no different. Born into a successful business family, he had nothing to worry about. But, when he was 28, drastic financial mishaps in his life cast their dark shadow on his otherwise perfect world. He found himself experiencing relationship issues with his parents; he started questioning himself and his every decision; he found himself sadder and sadder all the time. The worst part was, he knew there was a happier version of himself somewhere within, but couldn't locate it. Finding himself in a dark and sad place, he was struggling to free himself…
And, who can forget famous Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's case. In her own words, "It all began on February 15, 2014. I woke up that morning with a sick pit-ish feeling in my stomach. On one hand, I was doing extremely well professionally, but on the other, I felt low, empty and directionless. The worst part was that I couldn't understand what was happening to me. Waking up every morning had become a struggle. It was clearly the toughest year of my life…"
Well, it is as simple as that. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Not restricted to any age bracket, or gender, or social standing. We are all just as vulnerable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the next big epidemic to hit the world!
You are not alone
"However, most people hesitate to seek help for the simple reason that anything associated with mental health is mistaken for mental instability or madness. For that matter, a layperson dismisses depression with 'Don't worry, it's just a passing phase. Have a cup of hot coffee, cheer up.' But, only those who are affected by it know it's insufferable. The general tendency is to sweep it under the carpet. Only an expert knows it's a disease like any other, curable if treated right," says Anna Chandy, the first supervising and training Transactional Analyst in counselling.
As the awareness level in the country is abysmally low, about 25 per cent of those affected by depression silently suffer, without seeking help. In the West, there are counselling centres, hotlines, group therapies and expert advice for people to cope with depression. In fact, going to a counsellor or a psychiatrist is as common as visiting the grocer. But in India, it is hardly so. Isn't it about time we started seeing the problem for what it is and consulted the experts?
"Depression is totally curable. Since it involves a chemical imbalance, it requires medication or therapy, and in some cases, both. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the chances of an early recovery. Untreated depression can sometimes lead to more severe conditions where medication or therapy might not help. With some careful attention and lifestyle changes, depression can be a thing of the past," says Dr Bhat.
However, at this point, it is pertinent to mention that depression is not a modern problem. A sneak peek into history reveals that it has always been there, only it was called 'melancholia' then. The earliest accounts of melancholia can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamian texts in the second millennium BC. However, melancholia was then treated as a spiritual or mental illness where the person afflicted with it was believed to have been possessed by demons. There are also records of Greek historian Herodotus's writings in the 5th century BC, where there's a mention of a king who was driven mad by evil spirits. The same was the case with early Babylonian, Chinese and Egyptian civilisations where exorcism techniques were used to 'treat' melancholia.
We have definitely come a long way. Glad to share that Arnav, Abhijeet and Deepika had the courage to fight their mind's demons with a little help from counsellors and psychiatrists. Today, they are not only out of depression, but also happier human beings. They speak about their personal struggles openly to encourage people to come out and talk about depression as they do about other physical maladies.
"Why not? If your car breaks down, you cannot fix it yourself. You need to go to an expert. Similarly, when you have a problem, why not see a counsellor or a psychiatrist," asks Abhijeet, who had the presence of mind to seek help as soon as he realised his life was falling apart for no fault of his. "Experts helped me put things in perspective, giving me the clarity to make some difficult decisions that helped me come out of my problems. For me, happiness was the final goal. With regular sessions, I have turned the corner. Today, I have realised I am not alone. Just because things are difficult at some point in life, doesn't mean they will always be. It is possible to overcome the condition; all it takes is a little willpower and some help," he adds.
Heartening words, indeed. But, along with the lack of knowledge and research in matters relating to depression, the country is also grappling with the shortage of mental health professionals. Despite the large number of people who require mental health attention, India has only around 3,500 trained psychiatrists, and even fewer psychologists. However, finding the right counsellor and psychiatrist is also of paramount importance, as Arnav realised.
Hope reigns supreme
"Some mental health experts too faltered before zeroing in on the exact reason for my extreme sadness. Today, thanks to my counsellor and the psychiatrist, I have regained my confidence in myself. I have matured so much in the last one year since I sought help that I see the bigger picture now. A person who couldn't earlier sit still even for a few minutes can now confidently say that it feels good to peacefully sit for 10 minutes without being bombarded with thoughts," says Arnav.
The bottom line is obvious. Depression is a serious problem, and it's high time we acknowledged it. Ask Anna as to why people hesitate to admit that they have a problem, and she says, "The reasons are aplenty. Among the young, it could be the fear of being branded 'crazy'; among corporates, it could be the fear of losing their job, their livelihood. So, with hardly any options left, they prefer to silently suffer."
Here's another shocker — According to WHO, the average age when depression strikes is 31.9. But, in some, the symptoms surface early. "For some of my clients, the symptoms have shown when they were as young as 15-16 years of age, but were mistaken for the usual problems associated with adolescence, or laziness. It is sad but true that many doctors in India are incompetent to handle mental illnesses in their practice," says Anna.
In such a scenario, who do we turn to for help? There are several organisations working around mental health in the country, both in urban and rural areas, and doing phenomenal work, the most recent one being The Live Love Laugh Foundation founded by Deepika Padukone last year.
Here's hoping all the endeavours to raise awareness about depression bear fruit and India continues to live, love and laugh happily ever after.
(Some names have been changed to protect identity)