Akhrienuo Kire
Dimapur| May 15
Mental illness has seen a dramatic increase over the years among youngsters in Naga society. For many, society has become increasingly alienating, isolating, leading to disturbances in their thoughts, perceptions and behaviour.
Anxiety disorder, depression and bipolar disorder are the most common mental illness among youths today. Ever since the inception of National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in Dimapur on March 2016, about 40 such cases have been recorded falling under the category of youths within a span of one month. Dr. C. Kezo, a Psychiatrist and Nodal Officer at NMHP Dimapur, shed some light on the subject.
He said that through proper medication, counseling and guidance on healthy living and crisis management through medication, mental illness can be treated.
The major grounds for mental illness among students are work stress, anxiety disorder, and, mainly, substance abuse. Parents are unaware about basic mental illness. Children are not properly guided by parents to inculcate work culture, moral values, social norms and disciplinary actions. “Deprivation of bright students to get selected especially in competitive exams after several attempts although with good records, leads to depression and ultimately into substance abuse,” shares Dr. Kezo.
Such is the case of Ian (named changed) currently employed in a paramilitary unit. He first started with sniffing dendrite and smoking cannabis with friends as a social leisure activity at an early age. This eventually led to harder drugs. He had cravings, disturbed sleep, restlessness and mood swings. He is now undergoing medical treatment and counseling.
A little boy of 9 years, Martin (named changed), is another patient who has difficulty understanding and suffers from delayed development. He is also presently under medical care.
Another such patient is Shin (name changed) who suffers from Schizophrenia. She has bouts of restlessness, insomnia and hallucination.
Dr. Viketoulie Pienyii, a Psycho Therapist and Senior Medical Officer at Nagaland State Mental Health Institute, Kohima agrees with the statement that ‘Our society breeds anxiety, depression and dysfunction among our youths today.’
He interprets that society puts too much pressure to succeed, society is unable to understand young people and also it puts too much comparison. He laments that Naga society is still ignorant about mental health issues among young people and parents are partly to be blamed. “People are often misjudged about mental illness. It is an illness and not a curse. There is still a lot of social stigma attached to mental illness,” shares Dr. Pienyii.
It is time for parents and family members to understand that mental illnesses are conditions arising from combination of genetics, biology, environment and life experiences. The writer finished an internship with The Morung Express.
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