Mental Health Awareness Walk by Sukoon Pledge to seek Help on 11th October 2015

Untited Nations Universal Declaration of Human rights state that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day was "Dignity in mental health" thus Sukoon Pledge to Seek Help made efforts In Gurgaon to raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health conditions can continue to live with dignity. For this on 11^th October, Deepali Bedi with her team and other interested activist when to The Rahagiri track near HUDA city center and Created awareness and made people sign the Pledge that they will take care of their mental health. They will seek help for themselves and their loved ones when needed and would be dignified to people with mental health issues.

There was a great enthusiasm in people to participate. People of all ages, gender and professional background took interest in it. Even the traffic police personals came and discussed the need of mental health awareness. They also felt that people should be made aware of traffic rule even in Hindi so that will increase the mental peace of the people driving on the roads and of the traffic police personals.  Some very young children also joined for they wanted the stickers which had the Pledge logo and also wished to sign and participate. Kids who were just learning to write also wanted to participate if not for anything else but an opportunity to scribble. There were teachers who felt that this awareness initiative is very important and would be helpful for children and parents even for their schools. Certain people who had some mental issues used this opportunity to check if the medications they had would have any side effects. Some wanted to know the difference between a Psychiatrist and clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist. Over all there was a participation by approximately 150 people and many more watching passer byes who had hitches in participating due to their own reasons including the fact they were practicing for their marathon and where timed so couldn’t stop.

Overall we hope such initiates would help sensitising people about their own and others mental health issues.

Do differently

Be Responsible

Is the increase in depression and mental illness increasing because we have become more and more irresponsible?

Quite early in my study of Psychology, in contrary to Behaviour therapy techniques, I was told that between a stimuli and response there is a choice. So basically a particular stimulus doesn’t lead to one particular response as it did for Pavlov’s dog. This choice which a human being asserts has a lot of power to direct his/ her life. 

These choices give us lot of freedom to not fall prey of the external forces and help stir our destiny. But choices can be taken responsibly. If have to let go something to get something. 

Like very recently I put one post which said woman who do excel in professional life find it difficult to find a good match but non professional girls are not taken seriously. So whichever one you choose to be you will pay some cost or the other.

I am reminded of the dialogue in Yeh jawani hai Diwani of Deepika Padukone (Naina) to Ranbir Kapoor (Bunny) Jitna bhi try karo, kuch na kuch toh chhootega hi. 

But the child in us wants everything which is just impossible thus frustration. If these frustrations are not handled responsibly there are conflicts/distress/ mental illness. We have to manage our frustrations better. And be responsible towards the cost we can pay for what we want.

Is EAP/ Psychological services beneficial for a company?

"Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner." -Lao Tzu

Sukoon in news

Break the taboo

Cone of learning

Like a fit body, Fit mind is very important.

With improvement in medical knowledge the life expectancy of people has increased. But the sad part is due to changing life scenarios the mental health has deteriorated. World health organisation has predicted Depression to be the second leading cause of global disability burden by 2020. Depression, anxiety and somatic complaints, affect approximately 1 in 3 people in the community and constitute a serious public health problem.

Although we cannot change much of what is happening around but we can help ourselves.

1. Lead a healthy lifestyle:  We in pressure to run the rat race lead a risky lifestyle that is making our life very stressful. We are falling a trap of behaviours like smoking, unhealthy diet, in-appropriate nutrition and alcohol (which together account for many CHD and cancer deaths), poor diet leading to obesity (reducing life expectancy) or alternatively malnutrition, lack of physical exercise, irregular sleep patterns, sexual behaviour (for example, leading to infection or teenage pregnancy), and problems resulting from drug taking. It is necessary to break these unhealthy lifestyle patters which will keep us physically healthy and mentally fit.

2. Monitor mental health by the use of apps: Companies like Livonics, Apple etc are now providing apps to regularly monitor happiness, mental health fitness and other psychological factors. These apps give regular feedback and thus we can keep ourselves on the correction course. 

3. Break barriers and Seek help at the earliest: Guillver et al in 2010 identified key barriers to seek help included

a.                  Stigma and embarrassment

b.                  Problem recognising symptoms (poor mental heath literacy)

c.                   Preference for self-reliance

d.                  Confidentiality and trust

e.                  Hopelessness

Breaking these barriers is important as early diagnosis and intervention provide better prognosis and better management of the problem. Sukoon Psychotherapy Center with its initiatives like Sukoon: Pledge to seek Help, are actively involved in helping you to become aware about various mental health issues and providing self help tips to prevent and support interventions.

Only a balanced and fit mind can be your sails to take your boat forward smoothly in this ocean of life.

Thus, Lets Pledge to seek professional help when needed, as it can help adjust your mind's sails in the right direction and to take you smoothly through this oceanic journey of life.

Silence is not the Answer this time

Anxiety

Depression

Responsible people go to therapist!

Let's make a Social Change

Myth: People are losing their Mind thus their is increase in Depression & Sucide

Myth: Family & Friends know me better then Y Psychologist

Myth: Mad go to Psychologist

Pledge to seek help