Mental health issues affect humans from all communities, but mental health in our community is mostly seen as a taboo subject. It’s seen as shameful if you are suffering from a mental health problem, or people judge you for going through ‘such a thing’. Keeping it a secret from society, keeping it a secret EVEN from family. Some question

“What have you even done to be like THIS?”

It’s rarely spoken about in families and within the society. It’s kept private because it will ‘spoil the family name and reputation’ and ‘we don’t want those aunties gossiping about it ruining our status in society’.

Don’t Assume – be Open for Mental Health Issues!

Honestly, not wanting to be a part of gossip is understandable, because not only could it create nonsense within the family it would impact the individual who has mental health problems. But if they do, it is nothing to be ashamed of. We are the ones who need to teach people and make them understand the impact of it and how it’s not shameful.

„This can only be done if we TALK about it.“

The causes for mental health problems are often misunderstood by the South Asian society, and not taken to be a concern. The mindset that most older generation South Asians hold prevent those close to them from getting the support they need.

„Blaming the parenting, blaming genes and saying nonsense like it’s a bad time for them; these are some of the causes people in our society assume.“

By assuming these causes and misunderstanding the individual, they are don’t get the support they need and can even become reluctant to speak about it. The only way to understand the causes of mental health problems is to actually listen and learn.

„So, instead of closing all the doors as soon as someone says mental health, why not open them and welcome them in, speak to them, understand them.“

Mental Health Issues can Affect Anyone!

Many are scared that if they talk about their mental health problem the family’s reputation will be ruined. This shouldn’t be a thing at all. Your family is supposed to be your support system. Some may out of good intentions reduce the amount of contact you have with people, in order to stop people from gossiping, etc. But this just leads to isolation.

A lot of families keep the fact that someone in their family has a mental health problem a secret. This isn’t caring for them, this isn’t supporting them at all. We need to spread awareness that ANYONE’S and EVERYONE’S mental health can be affected.

„You might get random aunties and uncles telling you to do this, do that and you’ll be the same again.“

The social pressure of our society to conform is unreal. STOP pressuring people to become the norm and support them. We’re all human, at one point we are all affected. Spread love and care instead of judging an individual, you wouldn’t like it, would you? Then treat people the way you would want to be treated.

„We all need to understand that mental health problems can affect anyone, it’s not something to be frowned upon.“

And people who are affected by mental health problems can overcome it, with the right support. People don’t ask for their mental health to be affected, it happens. It’s not shameful to be affected or to talk about it.

„We need to challenge this taboo.“

Additions

This is PART I of our Mental Health series. See here the other articles of this category.

Picture („Brain power“) under Creative Commons License by Charly W. Karl 

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