As the world grapples with the distress and anxiety brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, governments and organizations worldwide are stepping up to address the mental health crisis unfolding in its wake. In such a scenario, the Indian Government has launched the Central University of Odisha Helpline – “Bharosa”, positioning it as a beacon of emotional support for students.
Aim and Need for Bharosa
The primary goal of Bharosa is to provide Cognitive Emotional Rehabilitation Services to all University Students of Odisha. The need for such an initiative underscores the stark reality that social distancing and self-isolation protocols, vital to containing the spread of Covid-19, have had a significant impact on mental and physical health due to reduced social interactions. This phenomenon, often described as a ‘social recession’, exemplifies the adverse effects of declining social contact.
Benefits of the Bharosa Helpline
Bharosa serves as a medium to provide mental and psychological assistance to students. By bolstering mental health support, the app aims to alleviate the emotional distress many students are facing due to the drastic changes in their lives brought about by the pandemic.
Understanding Mental Health
Mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders. It is defined as a state of well-being in which individuals are able to realize their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute positively to their communities.
Other Related Initiatives
To tackle the widespread mental health issues in India, the Government launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982. The Supreme Court has also declared healthcare, including mental health care, a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. In recent years, other initiatives like the Happiness Curriculum, launched by the Delhi Government in 2018, have aimed at promoting positive mental health in educational institutions. Recognising the criticality of global mental health, Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commits to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
Mental Health Care Act, 2017
The Mental Health Care Act (2017) is an example of a legislative milestone in the fight for mental health rights in India. It grants patients the right to make an Advance Directive, specifying their preferred course of treatment during moments of mental distress. It also allows them to appoint a Nominated Representative who can make health-related decisions on their behalf. The Act ensures the right to mental health care, free quality services, access to free medicines, community living, protection from cruel treatment, and a safe and hygienic environment. Additionally, it includes provisions for legal aid and prohibits the use of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) without anesthesia. A significant change introduced by this Act was the decriminalization of attempted suicide. Individuals attempting suicide are now considered to be “suffering from severe stress” and are not subjected to any investigation or prosecution.
In these uncertain times, initiatives like Bharosa offer a much-needed ray of hope, aiming to mitigate the psychological stress experienced by students and contribute to the larger goal of promoting mental health awareness and care.