I
am doubtful if the Bhutanese took mental health seriously in the past. However,
at time like this: when the pattern of our economy is changing, when globalization is
diffusing fast into our borders, when our life style is changing, when we are
bombarded with information, we must take the mental health seriously.
Time
has come where number of people suffering from various mental disorders has
increased over the last few years. The number of people visiting the
psychiatrist in the capital has increased over the years. The Annual Health Bulletin 2014, reports the total
mental disorders of 3520 in 2013 from 3044
in 2012 in the country.
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Anxiety,
psychosis, depression and substance abuse are attributes to mental health
disorders. However, whether mental disorder is caused by the consumption of
alcohol and drug use( psychoactive) or if the consumption of this substance is
caused by mental disorder is yet to be found.
One
of the probable consequences of mental disorder is suicide. The staggering numbers of suicide from 2010
till October 2013 is 293 cases (reported case). We saw 68 suicide cases just in this year (Zam, 2014). This is a very huge number for small nation like ours.Just few days back, we saw another two youth
take their lives.
What does this number show? It shows that
something is terribly wrong somewhere. We are either overlooking or complacent
about our mental well being. The suicide and suicidal attempt
could be due to the ignorance of the parents to their child’s emotions, poor
communication, inability of the person to cope up with depression and stress,
problems amongst peers and inaccessibility to counseling services.
The
increasing mental disorder in the country is the alarm to our society that we
need to take mental well being very seriously. Its time where frequent dialogue
and communication in the family and between friends must be revived. We must
put aside our mobile phones, laptop and television for some time and sit
together. Of course, we have mails to
respond, meetings to attend, urgent appointments and follow ups to be done. Yet in our busy schedules, we should find time
for our families and friends to do that little exchange of dialogues.
The government is making some intervention. The counseling facilities will be
made available to all walks of life. If a person feels that he/she has mental
disorders, the person must come forward to avail these services. They must talk
and not hesitate to come forward to get help.
References
Ministry
of Health. (2013). Annual Health Bulletin
Ministry
of Health. (2014).Annual Health Bulletin
Zam, N. (2014). Bhutan
Sees 68 Death By Suicide Cases So Far This Year. Retrieved from www.thebhutanese.bt
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