Discourse on depression and mental health in general should be normalised
Since the untimely demise of renowned Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the world has yet again begun to reflect on the value of seeking help and dealing with mental illness. Many famous actors have tweeted regarding this topic as well.
These strange times call for a different set of measures to be put in place for people with mental illnesses as we implement social distancing and lockdown measures across the world. Many of us are struggling with our inner battles while being away from our loved ones with limited access medical health professionals. To top it all, we are living in a constant state of fear and anxiety not only for our own lives but also for those around us. The stigma around mental health and the extent to which we have underplayed the value of what it means to be mentally healthy is still an issue, even though we have begun to speak about it more and more. Sushant Singh Rajput was an advocate of the idea that it is alright for men to cry. This seemingly small message holds immense significance, especially in South Asian societies where men are forced to be tough and strong. This stoic-like mentality later becomes an internalised trait for men in their adult years because of which they find it difficult to convey their emotions. Even when they are able to express it, others may view them as weak or vulnerable.
While suicide is a subject that is a lot more complex and should be spoken about separately, discourse on depression and mental health in general should be normalised so that we are comfortable enough speaking about it.
Seema Chaudhri
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2020.
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