World Mental Health Day

  •   Fri, Oct 10 2025
  •   By Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor

October 10, 2025

World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10.

This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is ‘Access to services - mental health in catastrophes and emergencies’.

Catastrophes and emergencies are periods of unsurmountable stress. Be it nature’s wrath- floods, earthquakes, tsunamis or man-made disasters such as war and strife, when people are faced with situations as these it’s but natural to break down.

Mental distress is directly proportional to the severity of the calamity. Chronic problems will result is greater distress.

Personality, family history, past episode of psychiatric illness, coping strategies, social support and financial stability, all determine if someone will develop a mental disorder or not.

Acute stress reaction is the most common in the initial days. People grapple with denial, a sense of disbelief and shock. Some experience social withdrawal, others irritability, sleeplessness and panic.

Adjustment disorder sets in some with depression predominating in some, anxiety in others, a mixture of emotions and conduct in few. Substance abuse may increase and so may promiscuous sexual behaviour. Previously strained relationships may break altogether.

In some individuals, acute psychosis may result causing total socio occupational dysfunction.

If the calamity ends, most people may return to normalcy within a few months. But where the stress continues, more chronic mental illnesses will increase in prevalence. One in three may develop mental health conditions.

Post-traumatic stress disorder being the most common. Here individuals have severe emotional upheaval. Some have repetitive replaying of the traumatic memories. Others have flashbacks and imagery of the harrowing experience. Many have nightmares disrupting normal sleep. Some others suffer anxiety, panic attacks and inability to socialise. Some become very sensitive to loud noise and have exaggerated startle response. Psychiatric illnesses renders them dysfunctional long after the trauma ends.

A significant proportion of them develop a depressive syndrome. They experience sadness, apathy, reduced energy levels and a sense of profound helplessness. Some harbour death wishes and suicidal thoughts. Many take away their own lives. High suicide rates are seen in those who are exposed to severe traumatic events.

A significant number also develop anxiety disorders. They experience panic attacks and sleep disturbance. They experience social withdrawal, inferiority complex and reduced self-esteem.

Catastrophes and emergencies are very difficult times. Unfortunately it’s happening in so many places around the world. It may be floods and destruction associated with it or never ending wars causing so much of human suffering loss and misery.

When life itself is endangered, focusing on mental health becomes last priority. But when the calamity ends, the scars on mental wellbeing become visible.

Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder render useful productive members of society defunct. Rebuilding society requires rebuilding its people. Mental health at this juncture cannot be ignored.

Prevention is better than cure. A stitch in time saves nine. Crisis intervention started early is known to reduce distress and promote mental well-being. Self- help groups and group therapy also help. Talking and sharing help too. A mental health helpline can help by giving people facing such catastrophic events opportunity to ventilate and express their distress. Making these services available in person will be challenging. But in today’s digital world, remote access is doable. Manpower and resources determine how many people will actually be helped in these circumstances.

Restoring normalcy and restarting a routine is a must step to getting better. Losing control is not easy. Gaining back control over one’s life also takes time and is not at all easy in these circumstances.

On this world mental health day let us resolve to help those facing grave catastrophe and emergency. It’s unimaginable how much agony people exposed to disasters have to face. Empathy and understanding is needed to get the people exposed to such difficult circumstances, back to normalcy.

 

 

 

 
By Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor
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Comment on this article

  • Rohan, Mangalore

    Fri, Oct 10 2025

    Some are lucky and some are unlucky the lucky ones have good conditions around them so they skip mental diseases unlucky ones get caught in a whirlwind. There are the resilient ones who convert bad luck into positive frames of mind which is very difficult for normal minds. There are others who inspite of being lucky live a sad life because of ignorance. The balanced ones who cater to all situations. Life is mixture of all. Being balanced u experience life to the fullest. Everything changes over time it's the rule of life nothing is permanent.


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