Dealing with mental-health challenges in 2021

Dr Moitrayee Das

(The writer can be reached at mdmallika7@gmail.com)

It is no surprise that the horror and remnants of 2020 is far from over and people are yet to come to terms with the fact that 2020 was an actual year that we had to live by. Out of all the irreversible damage that 2020 brought with it, the rapidly declining mental health of people is one of most serious concerns that we need to effectively deal with.

With progress in efforts for Covid-19 vaccinations and predictions for when the population will receive them, there seems to be some hope to curb the widespread virus. Unfortunately, there is no such vaccination for mental health illness. "We don't have a vaccine for our mental health like we do for our physical health," Carlson (the immediate past president of the American Public Health Association and an executive administrator at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta) said. So dealing with mental health challenges is going to be difficult but nevertheless very important as this might be the next epidemic we have to deal with.

Consultant psychotherapist Dr Shivangi Pawar says, "Now, in the New Year 2021, see to it that you prioritize your mental health, and boost it with the vital strategies. Life did return to normalcy after the unlock phases, but, still, the pandemic continues to haunt people. It is the need of the hour to see to it that you make 2021 the year of good mental health by not ignoring your mental well-being".

It is important that people realize the effects of the pandemic on people's mental health and how it has taken a toll on people's lives. Whether it be at our workplaces or in our everyday lives it is vital that we make sure that we keep a regular check on our mental health by engaging in activities that help us experience a sense of relief and comfort from the daily stressors and definitely include physical exercises to our daily routine. People will have different strategies to take care of their mental health and it is important they engage in whatever activities it is to keep them healthy and at peace. Also, when necessary it is important that people seek help from mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists) and discuss their mental health issues with them without the fear of the stigma and label that comes with mental health treatments.