Imagine if you treated a common cold like as if it were Aids. Consider how the world will be then for the infected. Well then consider this; our society treats people with mental illness as if they have Aids or some taboo disease. How much help does this attitude lend to the concerned patients especially when social aspects are also a major cause of it.
No one is immune to mental illness. Depression and Anxiety being the most common can happen to just about anyone. It is not a question of weakness under any circumstance and should not be treated as such. The causes can vary from addictions to phobias to just about our basic attitudes. From life events and circumstances to daily basics like sleep and diet. So tell me who is immune to all these situations? Everybody and just about anyone can break down, superman only exists in fantasy.
Our Naga society has its fair share of alcoholism and addiction related anxiety and depression. We may be the cause of our own situation but life and God offers us the chance to get out of it. So who are we to deny the sufferers every help they need. One big deed our Naga society can do for no one but itself is to understand these basic mental illnesses. Treating mental illness as if it were a dreaded disease or something of shame does not help the sufferer in any way, fact is it can act as a catalyst to enhance the illness. Science offers us more than a helping hand to cope and get over the illness and God gave us this light in the dark.
Nagaland does not have many Psychiatrists which are alarming considering the age we live in. Our tryst with alcoholism and drugs does not see any decline. New diseases are discovered every now and then. Cancer is like an epidemic now than before. Uncountable environments are creeping up suggesting the need for more Psychiatrists. I also call them a light in the dark for that’s what they literally are. Dr. C. Kezo of Dimapur is one such light in the dark. As far as Psychiatrists are concerned he is as good as they come. You do not have to run to the modern cities to meet one. Let aside his very nominal charges as compared to the cities he updates himself regularly by attending seminars and meets every now and then. Thus helping himself to help us even better.
I hope the Medical authorities give more attention to the need for more Doctors in this field. Moreover I sincerely hope society at large change their views on mental illness. When was ever there a shame in taking Paracetamol for a fever so why should there be for taking antidepressants for depression. There is no shame in being human.
Ayeto Ayemi Fine Things, Dimapur
.JPG)
