Isolation and stress hidden dangers impacting mental health
Studies show that social isolation, unrealistic expectations, lack of emotional support, and widespread stigma significantly harm mental health, raising the risk of depression and anxiety while preventing people from seeking help.
• World Health Organization (WHO) reports nearly a billion people globally live with a mental health disorder, and 15% of the workforce aged 15 and above are affected at any time.
• While work provides livelihood and purpose, an unhealthy environment can harm mental health, reducing productivity and costing the global economy around $1 trillion annually.
By Dr. Soumya Ramanna Shetty
ENT Surgeon, Salmiya Clinic
Special to The Times Kuwait
Losing a dear friend made me realize just how disconnected and isolated we’ve become. It’s a tragic irony that in such a highly connected world, we often live as emotional islands.
Numerous studies have shown that feeling socially isolated, facing unrealistic expectations, and lacking emotional support can deeply affect mental health, leading to unhealthy habits, increased stress, sleep disturbances, and a higher risk of depression and anxiety.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly a billion people worldwide live with a diagnosable mental health disorder. A significant percentage of them do not receive adequate care and support due to various factors, with widespread social stigma being a major barrier that prevents people from seeking help.
The theme for this World Mental Health Day is “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace,” and rightly so. About 57-60% of the global population over 15 years of age is part of the workforce, and studies show that approximately 15% of this population has a diagnosable mental health disorder at any given time. While meaningful employment provides livelihood and a sense of purpose, an unhealthy work environment can severely impact mental health and overall quality of life, leading to reduced productivity. This lost productivity is estimated to cost the global economy around $1 trillion annually. Therefore, ensuring mental health and well-being is crucial for both individual and community development.
To achieve a meaningful transformation, it is essential for all of us to come together and create a society where mental health is valued, promoted, and protected, free from stigma or discrimination.
As individuals, here are a few things we can rely on to ensure our well-being and contribute to the well-being of our community:
- Choose a career that aligns with your skills and interests: Career growth shouldn’t feel burdensome when you love what you do.
- Set realistic and achievable goals: Be kind to yourself when results don’t meet expectations.
- Prioritize physical health: A healthy body is a key component of overall well-being. Make exercise, walking, or any activity of your choice a daily habit, not just something for “free time.”
- Create healthy boundaries between work and personal life: Organize your schedule to balance work and personal time effectively.
- Build positive, real relationships: Cultivate genuine connections with friends and colleagues, and stay in regular communication with them.
- Cultivate a hobby: Reconnect with a long-lost passion or explore something new that sparks your curiosity. Invest time for yourself.
- Recharge regularly: Take time to travel, relax, or spend time with loved ones. We all need a break from life’s demands without the pressure of work or hard decisions.
- Learn to relax: Use techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness. Start by taking a few minutes each day to focus on simple acts, such as breathing, enjoying a meal without distractions, or taking a walk.
- Spend time in nature: Being in green or blue spaces, like parks or beaches, is known to calm the mind and promote relaxation.
- Identify your stressors: Keep a journal or talk to a friend about what situations create the most stress for you. Recognizing your stress patterns helps you respond in an empowered way.
- Ask for help: Seeking support from trusted people can improve your ability to handle stress more effectively.
- Create a safe space for listening: Establish a supportive environment where you and your loved ones can express yourselves freely, without fear of judgment or discrimination.
Whenever we talk about mental health, we always say, “seek help when needed.” But sadly, the person who needs help the most may not be in the right state of mind to reach out. Worried about being judged or misunderstood, many people in distress may keep quiet. Unfortunately, we’ve created a society where maintaining decorum and appearance is valued more than inner well-being. Let’s normalize discussing our feelings and ensure that none of our loved ones feel left out or unheard.
We must come together with a unified and strong effort to raise awareness about mental health, and end the stigma and discrimination surrounding it. Let’s create a safe space for our family and friends, reassuring them that if they ever need help, they can ask without fear of judgment or bias.
