Mental Illness

By 2020, mental illness will be the largest cause of disability worldwide!

• One in every four Indians will suffer from one or other mental Illness at some point in life.

• At any given point of time, 1 in 10 Indians are likely to suffer from one or other mental illness, with millions of them needing regular psychiatric attention.

• 14 percent of the Global burden of disease is caused by mental disorders.

• Mental illness is one of 10 leading causes of disabilities in Asia (WHO, 2004).

• While mental illness is an equal opportunity disease, those among poor, destitute and homeless suffer most ―as high as 40 percent.

• Mental illnesses are eminently treatable or manageable with early intervention and continuous care.

• Mental illness, particularly depression and bipolar disorder are leading causes of suicide ― 15 Indians commit suicide every hour and at least as many suicides go unreported because attempt to suicide is an offence punishable by imprisonment under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code.

FROM THE MIND

Leading a peaceful and contented life is a reality most of us accept unwittingly. But for many, this is a huge daily battle, mired in ignorance, anguish and confusion. Below, is a first person account of one such sufferer who found a way out of the quagmire, to reclaim her own unique place under the sun

‘Schizophrenia'! ― the word fell like a bombshell in my already shattered universe. After almost two months of fighting demons and slashing my wrists to save the world from Osama Bin Laden, my ex-husband's family was convinced that I was a victim of black magic and forcibly took me to a tantric who pronounced that someone was trying to destroy them through me. A story that took deep roots in my mind. After a single visit to the doctor, I was left at my mother's place.

For almost a week, my mother didn't understand what was wrong with me. She only realized that I needed medical help when one day I attacked her physically. I never believed her, convinced that she was conspiring to dump me in a mental asylum. Finally, a close friend persuaded me to visit a doctor who pronounced that I had schizophrenia.

At the age of 30, I was left without a family, without a career and without a stable mind. Execution of daily activities had become a challenge.