Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 28
Is depression a sign of weakness? Is it all in the head? When should I seek help? These questions were part of a unique forum on mental health the IIM-Ranchi organised for its students today.
The institute claims to be the first to lead a discussion on decoding depression in the aftermath of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide which has seen at least five youngsters ending their lives. Rajput's death has suddenly brought the focus back on mental health.
Answering student queries was Ashish Pakhre, a leading psychiatrist from the AIIMS, New Delhi. He said depression was neither in the head nor was it something one needed to feel guilty about.
"Depression is a genuine mental health condition and not a sign of weakness. It has a range of causes — neurobiological, poor psycho-social support, weak interpersonal relations and personality issues that can make coping with situations challenging for some people," Pakhre said.
Most students, faced with twin stresses of Covid and uncertain academic and professional futures, asked if sadness equaled depression and when did the alarm bells start ringing.
"Sadness and anxiety are normal human reactions but when these reactions become too overwhelming to handle, that's when you should seek help. Depression manifests in changed behavioural patterns like loss of sleep, loss of appetite, undue anger and poor social connect. When these behavioural patterns last long enough beyond two weeks or so and start to cause functional impairment, social and occupational dysfunction, that's a sign of depression," explained Pakhre.
The specialist said most people would have the mechanisms to cope with life situations. "Some, who do not have the coping skills, should remember that depression is a clinical condition," he added.
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