Dealing with uncertainty in life and coping with emotions like stress and anxiety can be overwhelming for anyone. This makes it important to pay attention to your and your loved one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. 

If you are someone who deals with extreme sadness, bad moods, or obsessive thoughts, then you need not feel alone in this and seek help. Staying silent and dealing with it all alone can make it more overwhelming and unbearable than it is. Sometimes the right support and guidance are exactly what you need to get out of that rough patch.  

If you are confused or do not know what to do, or want to understand when mental health concerns require professional support, then this guide is for you. 

Mental Health Concerns in India

Mental health is a serious concern in India. Approximately 10.6% of Indians, or 11 out of every 100 adults in India, were living with a diagnosable mental health disorder, according to the 2015–16 National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).

It also revealed that –

1. 15% of the Indian adult population experience mental health issues requiring intervention.
2. Around 14% out of every 100 in India have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives.

If you know someone from Chennai who is struggling with mental health issues and needs help, you can contact a mental hospital in Chennai.

The Impact of Poor Mental Health 

Having poor mental health can have a wide-ranging impact on your health and even on socio-economic development.

1. Physical Health 

The World Health Organization points out that mental and physical health are deeply connected to each other. People who have poor mental health are known to face poor overall health. Their life expectancy is shorter too. For example, people who suffer from depression are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases as well.

2. The Cost to Jobs and Economies

People who struggle with mental health indirectly decrease economic output. According to the WHO,  Poor mental health starts affecting work life and leads to productivity losses. This leads to lower earning potential and growth of an individual. Estimates suggest depression and anxiety cost the global economy nearly US$1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

3. Relationships and Social Stigma

People dealing with mental health issues often face isolation. It becomes hard to keep relationships or communicate with others. A major study called the Lancet Commission found that depression makes it very difficult to handle family and social life. The cause behind this is the shame attached to mental health. Many people avoid getting help because they are afraid of being judged.

It is not always easy to know when everyday stress has turned into something more serious. But if you are struggling with your mental health, it is important to know the signs when you need to seek help before it actually starts impacting your health, work, or your daily life,

Signs When Mental Health Concerns May Require Professional Support

According to the 2015–16 National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted by NIMHANS, around 70% to 92% of people suffering from mental disorders didn’t receive proper treatment due to lack of awareness, social stigma, and shortage of professionals.  Therefore, it is very important to know the signs early on so you know when you need professional help and support. Here are a few of the indicators that you should keep in mind-

1. Inability to do the usual activities:
2. Extreme or long-lasting changes in one’s sleeping and eating habits
3. Often feeling panicked: for instance, you can’t breathe properly or feel your heart pounding but can’t control it.
4. Reliance on alcohol or drugs to cope 
5. Feeling like living life isn’t worth it
6. Having thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or even ending your own life.
7. Experiencing violence or abuse 

It can be difficult to navigate life while you are struggling with your mental health, and even more difficult to tell your feelings to others, but remember that asking for help is a sign of strength and shows self-awareness and courage to seek support. And if it is overwhelming to share everything at once, you can start small by sharing a little bit of information and just letting someone know that you need help.

If you or someone you know is facing mental health issues in Chennai and needs assistance, then you can visit a psychiatric hospital in Chennai.

How Professional Help Makes a Difference

Here’s how professional assistance makes all the difference:

• Early Detection of Issues – Through clinical interviews and assessments to recognize symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses before they escalate.
• Therapy or Counselling – Provided by trained professionals who assist patients using proven methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps individuals address their thoughts and behaviors.
• Medication– The professionals look at a person’s health history and symptoms to decide whether medicines are needed in their case or not.
• Regulating Your Emotions and Managing Stress – People learn simple coping skills, relaxation methods, and better ways to communicate so they can deal with daily struggles and improve their relationships with others too.
• A Comprehensive Plan –Treatments that mix lifestyle changes, therapy, medicine when necessary, and family support to improve your mental health
• Keeping Track of Your Progress – professionals keep a note of your progress and make adjustments to your treatment to facilitate your improvement and provide long-lasting emotional stability.

To conclude, you can say seeking professional help can make a huge difference. So don’t hesitate to seek help. 

Conclusion 

Sitting in silence as you struggle with your mental health can be lonely, suffocating, and painful. And if you aren’t even aware of when to seek help and why, it can be hard to tell when it starts impacting your life and take control of it.

So now that you know when to seek help, you need not wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. Seeking help on time can prevent you from a lot of pain and help you live a happier life. 

Mental Health and Rehabilitation Centres in Chennai

Jagruti Rehab operates two centres in Chennai. If you or a family member is looking for professional mental health support in Chennai, you can contact either location below:

Tnagar Centre:

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre – Mental Hospital in Chennai | Alcohol De-addiction Centre in Chennai

Address: 15, Venkataraman Street, TNagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017

Phone: +91-9822207761

Annanagar Centre:

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre – Alcohol De-Addiction Centre in Chennai | Rehabilitation Centre in Chennai

Address: 944, 17th Main Rd, Sector H, Thirumoolar Colony, Anna Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600038

Phone: +91-9822207761