KARACHI:
Do you know what your children are going through during the pandemic? The pandemic has not only taken its toll physically but has also affected our mental state severely. Students who remain grounded and isolated in their homes are suffering the most as a severe increase in mental illness amongst the youth has been witnessed.
Such a phenomenon is not just widespread in Pakistan, rather the whole world is facing a similar situation. In the US, youth suicide is comparatively high, making it the second leading cause of death for young adults between the age of 15 and 24. A survey was conducted by University College London in which various aspects of daily routine of different people with different backgrounds were studied. Participants were chosen at random and selected via social media. The results revealed that 67% of participants were suffering from mental illness. But the shocking thing was that most of them did not have any history related to any mental conditions.
The problem is that most countries have accumulated their resources to fight the raging pandemic but have done nothing to address the impact that it will leave in its aftermath. Regrettably, underdeveloped countries such as Pakistan don’t even consider mental health a priority and many who are facing such issues are unaware of what they are going through.
In order to cope with such an illness, one needs to transform their daily lifestyle: exercise regularly, eat healthy, practise meditation and indulge in things you enjoy. Since many people find it hard to seek professional help, these tips can help people fight illnesses like depression, OCD and anxiety. Moreover, parents should try and bridge the communication gap they have with their children and create a safe and open environment at home. This will help ease the mental burden.
Amna Shaban
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16h, 2021.
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