An Olympian feat to address mental health issues

In the weekly Health Matters newsletter Zubeda Hamid writes about Simon Biles, who is one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world, had made headlines during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, after she had difficulties during a vault, and ultimately withdrew from the team finals – she later said that she was not physically injured, but was prioritising her mental health, and more.

(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Zubeda Hamid writes about getting to good health, and staying there. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox.)

It’s Olympic season, and India already has cause to rejoice, with Manu Bhaker’s bronze in the 10-metre air pistol event. Globally meanwhile, all eyes are on renowned United States gymnast Simone Biles. Ms. Biles, who is one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world, had made headlines during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, after she had difficulties during a vault, and ultimately withdrew from the team finals – she later said that she was not physically injured, but was prioritising her mental health. 

“I have to focus on my mental health…We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do,” Ms. Biles reportedly said at the time, helping throw the spotlight on, and igniting a public conversation around mental health.

Even in the health sector, experts have for long said, mental illness remains one of the most neglected of problems. In India, the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16, found that 10.6% of adults suffered from mental disorders, but the treatment gap ranged between a staggering 70% and 92% for different disorders. This year’s Economic Survey 2023-24, released ahead of the Union Budget, highlights this issue for the first time, writes Bindu Shajan Perappadan: the survey says that at an aggregate economic level, mental health disorders are associated with significant productivity losses. There is also evidence of poverty exacerbating the risk of mental health due to stressful living conditions, among other factors. 

On poverty, homelessness and mental illness, Vandana Gopikumar and Supriya Sahu write that social protection and support measures for homeless people with mental illness require a radical shift and a reframing from paternalistic interventions to liberatory-focused strategies. In parallel, structural issues such as discrimination and violence, segregation and deprivation, need to be emphatically addressed. 

Mental health also came up in the Parliament, where the Budget session is ongoing: asked about student deaths by suicide in coaching centre hub Kota, the Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar said several steps were being taken both by the Central and Rajasthan governments: he pointed to the ‘Manodarpan’ initiative under which a national toll-free helpline and a website help provide psychological support to students. He also said only 1.2 per cent of total suicide cases are related to failure in examinations as per the National Crime Records Bureau – however, these numbers are believed to be an undercount of the real crisis. What strategies are needed to tackle mental health among students? In this piece by R. Sujatha, experts say multiple departments including health, education, information and broadcasting and others need to come together to develop strategies for suicide prevention, while also teaching students about the importance of mental well-being. 

Students apart, India’s rapidly-growing ageing population too, is also vulnerable to mental illnesses: here, Sunil K. Khokhar, writes that up to 40% of dementia cases may be preventable by addressing modifiable risk factors, and as always, early detection and timely intervention are key.