According to the World Health Organisation, globally around 280 million people suffer from depression, whereas around 1 in 5 of the world’s children and adolescents have a mental disorder. According to the information by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2018, India has just 898 psychologists against the requirement of 20,250. Moreover, the country has 1,500 psychiatric nurses against the requirement of 3,000. Ministry also states that in India, 1 in every 12 elderly persons have symptoms of depression. Patients together with their families and caregivers continue to experience stigma and discrimination.

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is celebrated annually on 10 October, is organized by the World Federation for Mental Health, and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’. COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on people’s mental health, therefore the need to observe this day becomes even more important.

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, we at Medicircle are celebrating World Mental Health Day Awareness Series to raise awareness about mental health issues that are currently affecting the world and ensure people enjoy good mental health and wellbeing.

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta is currently practicing at Psychiatry Clinic, Pitampura. He is a psychiatrist with 16 + years of experience with the Premier Institute of India. He has 38 publications with 8 international and 60 citations. He is involved in various international CMEs 

Importance of mental health 

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta says, “Mental health is very important. We can spend our life without mental health. To live life happily, we must have sound mental health. Mental health is important for - 

• Healthy life
• Happy life
• Happy work life
• Learning in life

If you have a physical disease, you can still lead a healthy life with sound mental health. On the other hand, having luxurious life and with no physical disease, but having unsound mental health, you cannot live a healthy life. 

Triggers of mental health 

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta says, “The trigger factors for mental health are known as predisposing factors or maintaining factors which are as follows- 

Genetic inheritance from parents and family members contributed to 70 %  Birth trauma  Adverse experiences in childhood, like separation of parent  Loss of relationship  Financial stress  Precipitating factors, short term trauma  Short term illness  Positive surprises  Intense depression  Maintaining factors like addiction and family problems.”

Positive surprises can cause mental illness

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta says, “ Positive surprises can cause sudden mental stress. These surprises bring a lot of changes in life. Getting a promotion can include more responsibilities 

Which can change your routine and causes sudden stress in life. This stress can cause mental illness. The positive surprises which can cause changes in life or stress are- 

Promotion in job  Examination result  Birth of baby.”

Treatment of mental illness

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta informs, “Mental illness is treatable. And some mental illness is curable like 

Acute depressive disorder  Brief psychotic disorder  Phobia 

Some chronic and long term treatment diseases- 

Bipolar disorder  Schizophrenia  Dementia 

90 % of cases of mental illness have a good response.”

Treatment without medications 

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta informs, “It depends on the type of mental illness. Mental illnesses like - anxiety and depression have a 60 - 70 % scope of better improvement without medications. Psychotherapy or counseling can help. Some chronic and long term treatment diseases require medications like- 

Bipolar disorder  Schizophrenia  Dementia 

Some mental illness can be treated with medications and counseling both.”

Message from expert 

Dr. Sumit Kumar Gupta informs, “Mental diseases and illness are treatable. Try to help people who have changed of behavior, support them, and help them with treatment by consulting a psychiatrist and counselor. Treatment can help to improve mental issues."

(Edited by Dr.Rati Parwani)