About Mental Health Disorders:
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According to WHO (World Mental Health Organisation) (Definition given in ICD 11): mental, behavioural, and neuro-developmental disorders are syndromes characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes that underlie mental and behavioural functioning. These disturbances are usually associated with distress or impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
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From this definition, it becomes clear that cognition, emotion, and behaviour are the three main pillars of mental health system, and if there is a disturbance between any of them it can cause mental disorder.
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It is important to understand that mental disorders or mental illnesses are same as physical illnesses as it occurs because of the imbalance of chemicals in the brain. But unlike physical illnesses, mental disorders are difficult to identify as the person suffering from mental illness does not feel any physical pain or may not point out the problem area.
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Anyone can get affected by mental disorders. Because of the Stigma and lack of awareness, many people don't seek help.
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As per the WHO report in 2019, 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder. India has one of the highest prevalence of mental illnesses globally, the national mental health survey in 2016 found that around 14% of India's population require active mental health interventions.
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Although the need is such, India has 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 population while the required rate is 3 psychiatrists per 100,000. The treatment gap is huge along this treatment gap there is also treatment lag where even though the people need treatment but do not receive it. hence it is important to engage the community, especially those who are aware of the issue and experienced it to work as lay volunteers and provide support to others suffering from similar issues.
