Mental Illness is not a Personal Failure!

                                                                                                    From PsychCare’s Desk

                                                                                                            Semra Salik

Ms. Semra Salik a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and a Mental Health advocate, a voice for those suffering from depression, anxiety and other everyday related issues. Through her writings, we aim to reduce stigma and disseminate a message of hope and support those struggling with mental health conditions.

What exactly is mental health and mental illness?

Mental health refers to an individuals’ emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It determines how one thinks, feels, and acts. It is also how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices while mental illness are patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that affect certain areas of life. These are features, which may or may not be persistent, recurrent, remitting or may occur as a single or multiple episodes.

I believe mental illness is simply a condition in which an individual requires a certain kind of support and a different operational system.

What should people know about mental health?

I’d like people to know that mental health is integral to the overall health and well-being of an individual. Having a Mental illness is not a personal failure neither is it a character flaw, a personal failing, weakness or a private shortcoming. I believe it is a sign of strength to be aware of your personal self and seek help and support. I encourage individuals to take charge of their psychological wellbeing.

As a practitioner in the field, what are the common concerns you have come across of people living with mental health conditions?

First and foremost, I see individuals expressing a deep sense of fear, shame, isolation, and despair. Second, people long to share their struggles and ask for help, but some are terrified of how speaking out and getting help might affect their relationships and careers. Third, many people are concerned about access to and the affordability of comprehensive and reliable therapeutic services.

I also see sparks in my youth with hope, courage, and resilience. I am in awe of those who are transforming adversity into advocacy for themselves and others. Together, we will create communities of hope, empathy, and inclusion where our diagnoses will no longer deter us from living the lives of our dreams.

What would you want people with mental health conditions know?

I want the individuals struggling with mental health conditions to know: You are not alone and it is never too late, there is hope. Seek help; Professional help enables people to lead fulfilling, accomplished, happy, and productive lives – both personally and professionally.

To begin with, what do you think is important to promote importance of Mental Health?

Individuals suffering from mental health condition may be candid and upfront about their illness, more commonly seen is their attempt to conceal it out of fear of discrimination or from the shame of stigma. Hence, let us all begin with De-Stigmatization- The de-stigmatization should include open and candid talk about mental health within our families and mental illness need not be a painful family secret.

One message you would like to share?

Psychological health is integral to the well-being and overall health of individuals, organizations, and communities. It is a need of time that we join our hands together as a global community to start the conversation about mental health and help each other create lives of resilience and well-being.