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LET'S TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS

The WHO defines Health " as a state of complete physical, mental and emotional well being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. " And yet we often find ourselves paying heed only to any of these domains in solitude. Oft neglected are the domains of mental and emotional well being or rather, the lack of it. As someone who is a fledgling in the study of Mental Health, I'd like to share my two pennies this World Mental Health Day. THE MENTAL ILLNESS PANDEMIC Mental illnesses have been known to humanity since time immemorial. Even the ancient Indian scholars described mental illnesses in the Charaka Samihita.  Despite this, mental illnesses have been treated as perhaps being "not real" or "it's in your mind"! It was seen as something that a person who's fragile would develop. So you had to merely, "Man-up!" or "Grit it out"! But it's only off late that India is waking up to mental illness. Mental illness

ONE NIGHT AT THE DOCKS

This story was written back in 2010 as an entry for the Deccan Heral Short Story Competition. Back then I was a second year medical student, and was fascinated by diseases of the mind. Now having taken up Psychiatry as a specialization, I re read it, and I must say it's quite an accurate description( save for fictional liberty).  .................................................................................................................................................................. ‘Raman, how much exactly is eight times thirteen?’, I queried.  It was the fag end of the day, my feet were aching and I didn’t exactly pride myself with regards to my mathematical abilities. All I wanted was to tally the change, finish the cursory submission work and head home. ‘One hundred and four’, rapt came the reply. This boy had a sharp mind. Pity he didn’t put it to much use but to place bets at the bar that he’ll shortly be heading over to; to intoxicate himself to the point