WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY YOUTH & MENTAL HEALTH – AKGsOVIHAMS

 

How Distressed is Young India?

How the youth can Cope Up with Mental Unrest?

3. 32% of Young India is Distressed says survey

AKGsOVIHAMS enlightens the youth on World Mental Health Day

Mind the MIND Psychological Unit of AKGsOVIHAMS observes Mental Health Day 2025 with the theme Youth and Mental Health. India is a young country and has the largest youth population in the world. With a median age of 28.4 years and a significant portion of its population under 35, there is huge potential to be realized. While it presents a great opportunity to fulfil the dream of India becoming a self-reliant and self-sustainable country, the picture is not quite rosy when looked at more intently. Today’s youth is faced by unique challenges that arise not just from the environment, but also from within. Feelings like loneliness, insecurities about their looks, frail and fragile relationships, a constant need for approval and validation from others, emotional dysregulation are posing significant challenges to our youngsters who constantly feel on the edge. Add to this, the uncertainty in job market and high unemployment rate. Today’s youngsters are struggling and they need help.

Mental healthcare services are much more accessible now than they were before. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more aware of mental health related issues. Rapid growth and development in technology over the past few years, have made it possible to effectively fight the stigma around seeking professional help. As a result, more and more youngsters are reaching out to Mental Health Professionals on their own. These are encouraging signs but a lot still needs to be done.

One such effort was recently made by Mr. Kaartik Gupta and Ms. Dharitri Dutta, Clinical Psychologists at Mind the MIND (Psychology unit of AKGsOVIHAMS). They, along with their team of Psychologists, carried out Mental Health Screening for the students of a premier institute in Guwahati. It was done as part of the student welfare program organized by the institute for its newly admitted students. A total of 1412 students (901 pursuing UG and 511 pursuing PG) were tested within the first month of their joining. Out of this, surprisingly 450 students (31.86% of the total) met the criteria for being significantly distressed or require further evaluation. These are worrying signs considering the fact that their academic session had just begun.

A closer look at their responses to questionnaires, brief individual interactions with them and information available in the public domain point to few important factors that need attention. These are relevant for students across age groups, at varying stages of their learning journey.

• Pressure to perform takes a toll on them. Mostly it is self-induced as they wish to live    up to the expectations of them from self and others.
• Comparison is the thief of joy. Constant comparisons, done by self or others, with their peers shifts the focus from working on themselves to what and how the others are operating. It also gives rise to feelings of envy, inadequacy and dissatisfaction.
• Interpersonal or romantic relationship issues have a major impact on their sense of self and overall well-being.
• Being away from home, family and friends feels like a challenge, especially for the first timers. Some find it difficult to adjust, while the others are able to make a smooth transition.
• Some students shared having fleeting suicidal thoughts and feelings of loneliness. It is an alarming issue as every day, unfortunately, we lose so many young and bright individuals to suicide.
• Inability to cut down screen time and doomscrolling on social media platforms.
• Feelings of self-doubt and absence of a guide or mentor to help navigate crucial junctures in life.

To ensure our youngsters grow and develop into balanced, resilient and productive individuals, we need to take certain steps right now.

• It starts by taking full accountability for one’s life. Ask yourself “If I take 100% accountability of my life, what would change? How will my life be? What kind of a life do I want to lead? What kind of an individual do I want to grow into? Are my actions helping me or restricting me from achieving the life I want to lead?”
• Keep a check on yourself through daily introspection and reflection. Spend ten minutes with yourself to assess how you spent your day and if it is in sync with what you want to be.
• Be mindful of where you are investing your – time, energy, emotions and efforts on a daily basis. At least half-an-hour each day should be devoted to your hobbies.
• Reach out to your support system not just when faced by a problem, but to share the good and mundane parts of your life as well.
• Take care of the basics – sleep, hygiene, diet, exercise. A strong foundation ensures a stable building. Avoid engaging in harmful substances like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.
• As parents, friends, teachers and well-wishers it is important to create a safe space around them. Listen more, be present, let them know you care, enquire about things other than their studies as well.
• Educational institutions have an important responsibility to create a healthy environment not just for the academic but overall growth and development of the student.
• Initiatives like – mentorship programs, participation in extra curricular activities, regular seminars and workshops related to mental health, sports days, theatre clubs, etc. should become an integral part of the students’ learning experience.
• Regular physical and mental health screening/check-ups to ensure that ill health does not become a hinderance in the youngster’s growth.

 

Founder-Director AKGsOVIHAMS Prof.Dr.A.K.Gupta added how at AKGsOVIHAMS patients are treated holistically with Homoeopathy and Psychology at the premier institute where patients welfare is the sole aim. As it is dedicated to Homeo – Pyscho Cure n Care with Wellness said Dr. A K Gupta titled Father of Integration in Medicine and Health Care. AKGsOVIHAMS (Om Vidya Institute of Homoeopathy and Allied Medical Sciences is accredited in Limca Book of Records for Pioneering Integration in medicine for over 25 years.

 

Dr. Sanket Gupta, Homoeopathic Consultant at AKGsOVIHAMS  emphasized the wonderful role that Homoeopathy plays in treating Stress, Depression, Anxiety disorders and even Behavioral disorders without any harmful side effects.

 

As a nation, we have a unique growth opportunity with India’s young and dynamic workforce ready to utilize its tremendous potential. It is up to all of us to create an environment that nurtures them, while the youngsters too need to prepare and hone their skills to thrive in the face of challenges.

 

Kaartik Gupta MSc.M.Phil (Cl.Psy)

Clinical Psychologist AKGsOVIHAMS

Email- kaartikgupta@ovihams.com

M-8851653345

Website – www.ovihams.com