Insights from a Counselling Psychologist
Blog post written by Nazia Tabasum A
In recent days, there has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of hospitals and medical centres in India, compared to the previous eras. While it is good to witness vast improvement in our healthcare facilities and systems, It is quite disappointing that consulting professionals for mental wellness is still seen as a taboo.
The disparity between prioritizing physical and psychological health concerns is very common in our country, and this practice still exists. But why does this gap remain?
During the earlier period, our ancestors had a widespread misconception that it’s a disgrace to talk about and seek counselling to overcome mental health issues. And the sad reality is that it is still believed to an extent in our generation.
It’s satisfying to see that, these days there is an awareness about prioritizing mental well-being through multimedia, books, and other mediums. Yet, in our society, there are some misconceptions regarding openly discussing mental health concerns and addressing them through therapy.
To have a clear understanding about this topic, I am grateful to reach out to Seyed Marjan, a Counselling Psychologist, and the Co-founder of ‘Space’, a mental health support centre, to get an expert’s insights for this blog post.
• As a therapist, what do you think of the misconceptions and common challenges your clients face when overcoming the stigma of seeking mental health therapy in India?
Seyed Marjan: The first misconception is that “seeking therapy means you have a psychological mental disorder.” But that’s not always true. You can seek therapy for any day-to-day challenges hindering your growth and functioning.
The second misconception is that people often think therapy will provide solutions to all their problems and make them feel better immediately. That’s not how therapy works.
I always tell my clients that their issues didn’t form overnight. They developed gradually over months or even years. So expecting to heal in just one or two sessions is unrealistic.
• How can Indian families normalize mental health therapy in our country without any judgments?
Seyed Marjan: That’s a tricky question because, to normalize therapy, families first need to understand and believe in its value. To answer your question, we can normalize therapy by viewing it in the same way we view physical health.
It’s simple: when you don’t feel physically well, you go see a doctor, right? Similarly, when you’re not feeling emotionally or mentally well, you see a therapist, even though your suffering might not be visible to others.
• As a Co-founder of ‘Space’, a centre for mental health support, share with us how mental health is prioritized as an essential part of well-being.
Seyed Marjan: In ‘Space’, we believe that every individual is unique and important. We are committed to providing a nonjudgmental, safe space where individuals can feel comfortable and better understand themselves.
We try to create reliable content that raises awareness about common mental health concerns in our society. Through our content, we also aim to destigmatize seeking professional help.
• What approaches do you consider most effective in helping your clients feel safe and supported, especially when mental health therapy is often seen as a taboo in our Indian culture?
Seyed Marjan: I personally find using an eclectic approach to be more effective in the Indian context, or any other context for that matter. The eclectic approach combines various therapeutic methods and techniques, as I strongly believe that every individual is unique. Given the cultural and religious diversity in India, relying on a single approach wouldn’t meet the needs of all clients.
I also believe that providing trauma-informed care is essential, as most Indian parents lack awareness about mental health. They often overlook mental health issues in their children. And, in the worst cases, some of my clients have faced shame or blame for discussing their mental health. They’re told they should “just be strong” and “stop overthinking everything.”
In these situations, clients feel emotionally neglected and struggle to find a safe space to express themselves openly. This is where a trauma-informed therapist can help, as they understand the mechanisms and consequences of neglect or trauma.
• What are your views about the media that is positively helping and shifting public attitudes toward taking mental health therapy?
Seyed Marjan: I would say only to some extent. Nowadays, especially post-COVID, more people and mainstream media are talking about mental health. Yes, it’s a positive development, but not entirely.
I see many quacks, and even a few mental health professionals, creating content just for the sake of it. Much of it isn’t even backed by science. I believe people should be responsible enough to thoroughly fact-check their content before posting.
Similarly, filmmakers should ensure their content is well-researched when portraying mental health, as it has a tremendous impact on audiences. I’ve seen many movies about mental health that don’t make sense at all (such as Atrangi Re, Anniyan, and Andhagaaram), and unfortunately, most people believe what they see.
On the other hand, there are a few films, like Irugapattru, Kumbalangi Nights, and Home, that beautifully portray mental health, therapists, and the importance of therapy. I’m truly grateful for such movies.
Thus, through these explanations, our Psychologist emphasizes about,
- Why paying attention to inner wellness is vital
- Why breaking social barriers and normalizing therapy is crucial
- Why equally valuing therapy, like regular health check-ups, is necessary
Stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and anger issues; all these are very common nowadays. But due to societal judgments, we often don’t speak much about these issues openly but suffer silently.
We all want to be heard, understood, and supported. For this, it is necessary to break the age-old stigma surrounding mental health, by taking impactful actions such as,
- Educating ourselves about the benefits of prioritizing mental health
- Having honest conversations with our loved ones when we are feeling low
- Reaching out to mental health experts without any hesitations when required
To sum up, prioritizing, identifying, and addressing mental health concerns by ourselves or seeking professional help is not always a sign of weakness; rather, it is a bold step we take towards our emotional healing.