“There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help” -Catherine Zeta- Jones
We all encounter challenges or problems in our lives on a daily basis. Those challenges can range from big ones to small ones, and each of them are subjective in nature and unique to each of us. The impact that the specific issue leaves on us can be noticed by our reaction towards it. Sometimes, handling such difficult situations alone can be difficult and as social beings, it is important for us to communicate about it to someone who understands, which in turn is important for our mental well-being.
The first step towards good mental health is to identify such challenges. The second step is to think about the solutions to it and the third step is, to talk to someone who can offer help.
What is help-seeking?
In the context of mental health, theoretically, help-seeking is “an adaptive coping process” which aims to obtain “external assistance” in order to deal with a mental health concern.
However, in simple terms, help-seeking is when an individual encounters a challenging situation which they find difficult to deal with, they seek help from a mental health professional. This may include a counsellor, therapist or psychologist, and they help them identify their mental health concern, the cause of it and how they can overcome the same.
Why is help-seeking important?
Have you ever visited a doctor because you were experiencing discomfort within your body? And have you ever heard your doctor say that ‘you came to me at the right time else the symptoms would have aggravated and made your condition worse’?
We all have experienced this situation! We visit a doctor to look at our condition and give us the appropriate treatment. In these situations we practice help-seeking for a physical health concern, something that is quite common.
Help-seeking in the context of mental health is exactly the same. When one faces an issue with their mental health, they visit a mental health professional who can analyse their situation and give them the appropriate advice and treatment for their concerns. The important point here is that the more one delays the process due to fear and doubt, the worse the situation can get.
Similar to how a doctor does not judge anyone for their physical ailments, a psychologist does not judge anyone for their emotions, thoughts or mental processes. Instead, they both understand and help the individual.
Help-seeking is essential for individuals to help them understand themselves better, encourage them to see through the difficult situations and give them the strength to battle it and help in their holistic development.
Myths and facts about help-seeking
Let’s do a fun activity together!
Please read through the following situation:
Joshua is an 18 year old, vibrant boy studying in high school. He likes to do everything to perfection and is markedly good in several domains like academics, sports, playing an instrument, cooking etc. He is the football captain of his school team and recently lost a match in the first round of the competition. As a person who likes to do things perfectly and as the captain, Joshua felt defeated on a personal level and was seen to be very sad for the next few weeks. He did not eat properly and suddenly started scoring low marks in his academics.
Based on the situation, there are four pairs of simple sentences listed below. Identify the sentence which is a myth about help-seeking and which one is the fact for the same. You need to finish this exercise within a minute. Don’t forget to count your score (1 mark for a correct answer)!
Are you ready?
3…
2…
1…
Go!
1. a) Talking about how Joshua feels and venting out his emotions to a professional counsellor will help him bounce back.
b) Counselling is only for people going through severe mental health concerns.
2. a) Seeking counselling is a sign that Joshua is weak.
b) Seeking counselling is a sign of Joshua’s will power to try and bounce back.
3. a) The counsellor will understand and help him out.
b) The counsellor will judge him and ask him to go away.
4. a) Only a counsellor or a therapist can be a part of Joshua’s help-seeking process
b) Joshua can talk to his parent’s first, his family and his close friends and alongside approach a counsellor for help.
Answers: 1(a), 2(b), 3(a), 4(b).
Why is there a stigma towards help-seeking?
There can be many reasons to explain the stigma associated with help-seeking. One explanation is that it completely depends upon one’s thinking which is influenced by their environmental and social upbringing.
Let’s think about our own educational institutions. When we were young children in school or whenever we performed poorly in our academics or got into a troublesome situation (example, an argument or a playful brawl), we were always sent to the school counsellor. Due to such harsh presentations our opinion about the counsellor may have shifted from ‘someone who is warm, understanding, non-judgemental and helpful’ to ‘someone who is scary and judgemental’ when in reality, the former is a fact. It is just like the sun being hidden behind dark, black clouds, our false assumptions tend to hide the true warmth of an approachable member who is well equipped with knowledge.
We must open our minds and hearts for the benefit of our own mental well-being.
Helplines and Websites one can visit
Aasra: Aims to provide voluntary, professional and essentially confidential care and support anyone facing a mental health concern and would like to reach out. http://aasra.info/
Tata Institute of Social Sciences: icall 022-25521111- Telephone-based counselling:(Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 10 PM)
Sneha Foundation India: (914) 424640050- They’re a 24X7 helpline that offers unconditional emotional support to the depressed, desperate and suicidal. They’ll make sure you do not have to feel alone, no matter what your situation is.
COOJ Mental Health Foundation (+918) 322252525- Since 2013, this helpline has been aiding people to cope with all kinds of distress and are trained to recognise the warning signs. The helpline is operational between 3 pm to 7 pm on weekdays.
Voice That Cares (ROCF): 8448-8448-45 - Voice That Cares is a free public helpline that provides psychosocial counselling support on a wide range of mental health matters including anxiety, fear, panic attacks, guilt, grief, loneliness, anger, exam stress, pandemic-induced psychological issues, stigma, etc. We also provide first aid support for people with suicidal tendencies, depressive disorders, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other mental health concerns. The primary expected outcome of the “Voice that Cares” initiative is to offer individuals an improved ability to manage their wellbeing and mental health. It may be noted that this helpline is not a substitute for medical advice or professional help. Timings- 9 AM- 9 PM.
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