World Mental Health Day: Talk depression blues away is the doctor’s advice

Rachana Naresh,24,was depressed when she was unable to find a job for a year. Despite excellent academic credentials,Rachana did not even get admission to a college of her choice for further studies. “I was going through the worst phase of my life and everything seemed pointless. I had cut off contact with my friends,as looking at their careers only made me feel worse,” she said. Her mother persuaded her to consult a psychiatrist and after a few sessions of counselling,Rachana slowly bounced back. While Rachana was fortunate,the recent spate of suicides in the city indicates that there are many who are unable to deal with the demands of the fast-paced city life.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) marks World Mental Health Day on Tuesday on the theme ‘depression’,psychiatrists and counsellors are urging the young working professionals of the city to keep in mind their mental and emotional well-being along with their fast-paced lives.” In the past two years,there has been a rise in the number of people in their teens and mid-twenties suffering from clinical depression. Anxiety about the future,family pressure and consequently work pressure are driving people into isolation,substance abuse,violence and so on,” said Dr Shubhangi Parkar,head,psychiatry department,KEM Hospital.

A dysfunctional family or the lack of family support is also a major cause of depression. “In a city such as Mumbai,where women too are career-driven and not wanting to compromise,divorce rates tend to be high and disrupt a normal family life. Many times,family members are not able to spot the signs of depression,or they may not be as supportive as they need to. At such times the person is driven even more to frustration,” said psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty

“In addition to family and friends,helplines and social support groups should be more active in the city. Often people don’t want to discuss their problems with a familiar person for fear of being judged. An unknown face or voice can be comforting if it only works as a venting system,” Shetty said.