October 10 is World Mental Health Day
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | October 9
Some of the pressing issues affecting the mental health of young people in Nagaland are social isolation, unemployment, pressures (stress) coming from parents, the pressure to excel, pressure from the society, and pressure from peers.
This observation was made by Dr. Viketuolie, Senior Medical Officer, State Mental Health Institute Kohima on the eve of World Mental Health Day which is observed every year on October 10 with the objective of creating awareness on mental health issues around the world. This year’s theme is “Young people and mental health in a changing world.”
Dr. Viketuolie felt that the level of job opportunity is also becoming very less in the state as a result of which many young people who are struggling to cut the mark go into depression. Further, he stated that “the biggest threat for this generation is their obsession with internet technology.” Speaking to The Morung Express, he expressed concern about young people excessively using facebook, watching videos (movies, pornography, etc) online, gaming online etc.
“The obsession with mobile phone is creating a serious disruption in our social relationship”, he put across while pointing out this generation is getting increasingly disconnected. Stating that young people today have no social life and everyone is with themselves, he said this can create depression or other anxiety problems.
The excessive use of mobile technology, he stated leads to sleepless nights among children, causing them to lose concentration in school. “As a result, they are not able to do well, they are dropping out of school/college…this excessive use is affecting their performance,” he said.
In order to address issues such as these, he urged for increasing interaction with adults and encouraging more physical activities. “This generation is playing less and fiddling with mobile phones. We have to increase social activity for them”, he said.
Pointing out that problems like employment, low job opportunity, and the pressures of life are also increasing, wherein there is a clear space of competition, he observed that these factors are consequently pushing youngsters to use drugs and alcohol. He said that alcohol abuse is a major problem in the present generation and added that the side effects of these psycho social stresses are the development of mental health issues.
Speaking from his own experience dealing with issues of mental health over the last many years, he observed that anxiety is very high among young people here.
