According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 25 percent of the global population will suffer from neurological or mental disorders. There is no denying that mental health conditions have seen an upsurge in the recent past. We spoke to Tasneem Raja, Lead-Mental Health Initiatives at Tata Trusts, “Think of mental health and wellbeing as a continuum with wellness on one end, and illness on the other. Most of us lie somewhere in the mid-range on this continuum, and almost all of us have some good days and some not so good ones”.

 “The first step in staying mentally healthy is being aware of our own mental health and acknowledging the stress we feel. Feeling stressed is not a sign of weakness, and simple coping mechanisms, such as increasing your activity level, relation techniques, and activating your social support network, often go a long way in helping us deal with stress. It is extremely important to reach out for professional help in the face of increasing stress that may negatively impact our wellbeing”, added Tasneem. The stigma surrounding mental disorders prevents people from seeking help even when treatments are available. Nearly two-thirds of people affected by a known mental disorder do not seek help from a health professional. Each year, the WHO celebrates World Mental Health Day on October 10 to combat stigma and spread awareness.