Mental Health in an Unequal World

We have all heard about Mental Health but how many of us can really define it properly? Most of us just associate it with feeling moody and low, and are clueless when it comes to dealing with someone who has mental issues. In reality, the subject can be discussed at length to no end.  
 
Being mentally healthy is defined as having a proper balance between our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. Our ability to interact with others, decision making, and managing different circumstances is based on how stable our mental health is. The balance is easily affected by one’s environment and unfortunately, more of us are at a disadvantage here than others.  
 
As per the statistics released by IFRC, there are close to a billion people in the world suffering from mental health disorders. This has only been worsened by the ongoing Covid19 pandemic around the globe, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the rising awareness around the issue, many countries still face poor access to mental health and psychosocial support services.  
 
Facing challenging circumstances can heighten mental health issues and ‘feeling low’ is one of the first and key signs that one is having mental health problems. While some of us manage somehow, receiving support from family, friends and colleagues can help loosen up the pressure. However, it is evident that we need to substantially invest in developing mental health and psychosocial support services at every level.