Let me start by saying that these suggestions are not entirely false. Following these regularly might affect your mood but these are preventive measures to generally feel fresh, not the cure for depression and anxiety. Asking a depressed person to stay positive is like asking an economically weak person to stop being poor.

The intentions of the ministry might be good but releasing a creative using some vectors to just be a part of the whole mental health movement lacks responsibility for such a huge institution of the government. All they could do is consult an expert before giving a diagnosis for such a serious problem.

This image was tweeted by @MoHFW_INDIA (Ministry of Health, India) with the “definition” of depression quoting “depression is a state of low mood that affects a person’s thought, behaviour, feeling and sense of well-being.” Adding to it they said, “One must take up activities that keep him or her boosted in order to cope with depression”

This is misleading on so many levels since depression isn’t just low mood it is a condition that affects everything including physical wellness. It doesn’t affect your sense of well-being, it directly affects your overall well-being.

I will stop my rant here since this has created a well-deserved rage on social media including contributors from the mental health professionals and people who suffer from depression and anxiety.

Let us take this opportunity to create awareness about this condition which has taken the form of an epidemic in today’s day and age.

Understand Depression

The World Health Organization (WHO) duly defines depression as a ‘common illness’ and says it is “Depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities”

The WHO adds on its website, “In addition, people with depression normally have several of the following: a loss of energy; a change in appetite; sleeping more or less; anxiety; reduced concentration; indecisiveness; restlessness; feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness; and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.”

With approximately 56 million Indians or 4.5 per cent of the population in the country suffering from depression, the least we could do is not stigmatize it. In recent times, many popular figures have talked openly about the same including Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Dutt, Varun Dhawan and Karan Johar.

Let me end by saying, depression is very much treatable with therapy and prescribed medication. Don’t let it reach a stage which makes you take wrong decisions. Seek help if you see any symptoms.

Depression and its Varying Picture by Dr. Preeti Chawla, Psychologist

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