Madhavi’s husband Arun had been keeping aloof for the last few months. At first, she thought that he was experiencing some troubles at work and tried to give him the space he required. But after a few days, he also took to drinking, and heavily. Madhavi, in their 10 years of marriage, had never seen her husband like this. Soon, she started to feel that he needs help. What she could not understand was that her husband’s mental health needed immediate attention.

An increase in the levels of anxiety and depression are likely to be visible in challenging situations, especially in persons who are not mentally healthy. According to Dr. Anuja Kelkar, Consultant Psychiatrist, Kelkar Hospital, Thane, unless one is dealing with a mental illness themselves or are seeing one of their near and dear ones go through it, they really don’t get it. This is not just a statement, but something that we all need to take note of.

How we think, feel and behave in our daily lives is strongly influenced by our mental health. Overcoming challenges, our abilities to cope with stress, building relationships and facing difficult situations it all depends on our mental health to a great extent.

A positive mindset, a healthy emotional well-being and clear thinking - all put together constitute mental health. People who are mentally healthy have a sense of satisfaction and a zest to live. They are able to deal with challenges they face in their day-to-day lives and possess the ability to reverse the difficult situations. They display a healthy mindset, are self-confident and show high self-esteem. They adapt to changes well and are quite interested in learning new skills. Above all, they are able to maintain a balance between work and play.

Taking control of your mental health

There are plenty of ways to take control of your mental health. We usually have a tendency to ignore the emotional messages that tell us something is wrong and instead, we tend to take the escape route, moving away from reality, distracting ourselves, or coming under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We do this in the hope that other people will not notice and that the situation will improve on its own.

Dr. Anuja Kelkar adds that “The positive aspect is that you are not alone and that you don’t have to feel hopeless. There are ways and means by which you can become stronger, both emotionally and mentally, and enjoy a better quality of life. Consult your doctor or counsellor, reach out for help. One has to be aware that tough times will always be there and there is no escape from that.”