‘You are not alone’. ‘Seeking help is not a sign of weakness’. In a bid to sensitise public at large, raise awareness about myriad mental health issues, and more importantly, destigmatise seeking professional help, mental health experts have been trying to emphasise such positive messaging for a few years now.
The last few months, however, say experts, have heightened the need to amplify such messaging and reach out to a wider community. Changes such as work from home, disruption of established routines, loss of a job, reduced physical activity and heightened stress levels have all contributed to sudden spurt in mental health issues, experts say.
Even as mental health helplines continue to be flooded with anxiety-ridden calls, the National Productivity Council, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has decided to organise free webinars on mental health to increase “productivity”.
Beginning August 14, experts from premier mental health institutes such as Bengaluru-based NIMHANS, VIMHANS in Delhi, and department of psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune would feature in these web-based conferences and provide useful tips to overcome common mental health issues such as anxiety and handling stressful situations at work, and at home.
“Our idea is to create awareness and destigmatise mental health issues. We believe such web-based engagements will help enhance productivity among professionals such as doctors, businessmen, students and parents, especially in the present context of the COVID pandemic,” Arun Jha, director general, NPC, said. The sessions, Jha said, would be interactive and allow the audience to engage with experts.
Beginning with parenting and children, these webinars will touch upon a range of issues such as general well-being, women’s issues and the neuroscience of anxiety.
On August 21, eminent clinical psychologist, Dr Kalpana Srivastava, currently with the department of psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, will address a webinar on ‘positive mental health and well being.’
Srivastava is also the president of Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists and has around three decades of experience in the field of clinical psychology. Her research has also focused on developing scales for assessment of stress and quality of life among members of the armed forces.
On September 11, Srivastava will also address the audience as well as take questions on women’s mental health issues. The following week, clinical psychologist Dr Jamuna Rajeshwaran will talk on clickable aspects of anxiety and stress, and give tips on managing it. Rajeshwaran is currently professor and head, clinical neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience centre at NIMHANS.
