It’s nearly two years since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world. Yet the fear and anxiety it brought, especially in those who suffered from the infectious disease, forced to remain in isolation at home, lost their near and dear ones and were left jobless for months, is hard to let go.

However, with Covid easing and India reopening, it is time to open up and start mingling with people with proper precaution, bring happiness back in your life and shun depression and anxiety, health experts said on Saturday ahead of the World Mental Health Day on October 10.

While we are not yet out of the pandemic and must adhere to Covid-approriate behaviour, one also needs to “be cognisant of physical and mental health, do exercise/ yoga and spend good time with family”, said Dr. Vipul Rastogi, Consultant neuropsychiatrist Medanta hospital, Gurugram, told IANS.

“Do not bottle-up your concerns and emotions. Share your feelings with family and friends and if it doesn’t help seek professional help at the earliest,” Rastogi added.

Mental health in India has been a concern, much before the pandemic. Due to societal pressures and social stigma revolving around it, the condition has not received much attention.

In 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind asserted that India was “facing a possible mental health epidemic”.

A study, published in the science journal Lancet in the same year, revealed that 14 per cent of India’s population suffered from mental health ailments, including 45.7 million suffering from depressive disorders and 49 million from anxiety disorders.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further accentuated this mental health crisis.

A recent LinkedIn report showed that more than one in two Indian professionals are currently feeling stressed at work as well-being measures have become a luxury for many in the last 18 months, adversely affecting mental health of working professionals in the country.

Source: IANS